Social Security

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OFFICES
Mineola 211 Station Road, 5th Floor Mineola, N.Y. 11501	Long Beach 25-27 East Park Avenue Suite 206 Long Beach, N.Y. 11561
Freeport 133 W. Sunrise Highway Freeport, N.Y. 11520	Melville 1121 Old Walt Whitman Road Melville, N.Y. 11747

For information call 1-800-772-1213.

WORKER BENEFITS

An individual who has reached full retirement age (65) and who has worked sufficient quarters under Social Security, is entitled to Social Security retirement benefits. For retirees born in 1937, or earlier, full retirement age is 65. For those individuals born in 1938, it is 65 years and 2 months. Full retirement age will gradually increase to age 67 for those born in 1960 or later. Individuals may apply for benefits starting at age 62 but the monthly payments will be smaller. Write or telephone the local Social Security office for instructions concerning filing a claim at least three months before reaching retirement age.

Individuals who are disabled before 65 may apply for Social Security disability benefits.

The spouse of a person receiving Social Security benefits is entitled to benefits even if he or she has never worked. Application can be made at age 62, but the monthly payments will be reduced.

A disabled widow/widower may apply at age 50. A widow who remarries after age 60 is entitled to the same widow(er)'s benefit as if the remarriage did not take place.

Upon the death of a person covered by Social Security on his/her own work record, a sum of $255 is paid to the widow or widower only if they were living together at the time of death or to surviving children who are eligible for benefits on the decedent's account.

As of January 2005, individuals age 62 to full retirement age can earn $12,000 without earning limit. During the year a person reaches full retirement age, s/he can earn up to $31,800 in the months preceding full retirement age. The benefits will be reduced $1.00 for every $3.00 earned over the limit. There is no limit on earnings beginning the month an individual reaches full retirement age.

DIRECT DEPOSIT

Direct Deposit is a service that most banks offer to persons receiving Social Security and/or SSI benefit checks. This service prevents lost or stolen checks, delayed checks in the mail and standing in line at the bank. Benefit checks are forwarded directly to the bank for direct deposit in either a savings or checking account. Applications for this service and additional information can be obtained from most local banks.

The ETA is a special, new account for anyone who receives a federal benefit, wage, salary or retirement payment. This low-cost ($3.00 a month) federally insured account is designed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to allow federal payments to be received automatically, even if you don't have a checking or savings account. Persons who open an ETA at a participating bank, savings and loan, or credit union will have their payment deposited to their account instead of getting a check in the mail. For further information about an ETA, speak with a service representative at your bank.

To find out where you can open an ETA, call: 1-888-382-3311 or 1- 877-326-5833 (TTD)