Social Security Benefits: Your Questions about Social Security Credits
Social Security Benefits: Your Questions about Social Security Credits
Q: According to Social Security, I haven’t obtained enough credits to be eligible for benefits. What are Social Security credits, and how can I not have enough of them when I’ve worked and paid taxes for years?
A: Credits that go towards qualifying you for benefits from Social Security are earned by working and paying your Social Security taxes. The Social Security service bases the number of credits a person receives on the amount of money they earn and the amount of time they have worked. The necessary income level for receiving social security benefits credits rises a bit each year; as of 2008, you receive one credit for every $1,050 you earn. You can receive a maximum of four credits annually (which is why credits are also called ‘quarters’), and any credits you earn will remain on your record even during periods in which you’re not working.
A certain number of credits or quarters are required in order to qualify you to receive social security benefits. The number of credits you need for social security is based on your current age, and is calculated by the number of years you have worked. If you’re looking to be eligible for social security benefits for retirement (and are of more than 62 years of age), you will need to have 40 credits (the equivalent of 10 years of work).
It does occur, however, that a person of retirement age who has worked for what seems to be the correct number of years does not have enough credits to qualify him or her for social security benefits. This occurs to workers who, during their working careers, did not (or do not) have social security taxes taken out of their wages. This situation mostly occurs among Federal employees hired before 1984, railroad employees with ten years or more of service, and state and local government employees whose employers do not participate in social security.
In most ways, blindness is treated by the SSA like any disability. But some special benefits are set aside for the legally blind, as this condition is particularly disabling. You should speak to a social security lawyer about any extended benefits you can get for legal blindness.
Q: I’ve heard I can’t file for Social Security for 12 months after my disability. Is this really true?
A: No, this is not true.
Submitting an appeal for a hearing is the last chance for a claim to be awarded benefits. The knowledge and experience a social security attorney can bring to your claim while undergoing this last step is extremely beneficial. Most claims that are awarded benefits after being heard by a judge have legal representation. Regardless of where your claim is in the process, an attorney will also assure that all paperwork is submitted on time and correctly.
Q: Is it possible to keep track of where your file is after you apply for disability benefits?
A: It is in your best interest to check in on your claim periodically.
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