An Overview Of Benefits (part I)
By Jinky C. Mesias, Fri Dec 9th

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Social Security members who were born before the year 1938 arequalified to full social security retirement benefits which willbe given when they reach the age of 65. However, for those whojust applied for their Social Security in the year 2003, therequired age for full retirement benefits will increase to 67.The increase to be implemented is gradual just take for examplethose members born in 1940 they may be able to get their fullretirement benefits when they attained the age of 65 and 6months. For those members born in 1950 they can get their fullretirement benefits at the age of 66 and for those born in 1960onwards, their full retirement benefits will be given to them atthe age of 67.

Social Security also offers early retirement benefits however ata reduced retirement amount. The early retirement is availableat age 62 of members. The disadvantage of taking an earlyretirement benefit is that the monthly benefit is permanentlyreduced. On the contrary, members who take the early retirementoption will be able to receive their benefits for a much longerperiod of time.

For those who tend to work beyond the full retirement option,the extra income they earn during those extra working years willincrease their average income and will likewise increase theirmonthly retirement benefits. And another advantage for notapplying for early retirement is that there are no earning limitfor people ages 65 or older.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS

In order to qualify for social security benefits, membersapplying must be suffering from a physical or mental impairmentthat is keeping him or her from doing any important work for atleast a year. Another consideration is that the disabilitycondition is anticipated to result in the death of the disabledmember.

Disabled members are expected to file their disability claim thesoonest time possible since disability claims really takes along time to process. In most cases the monthly disabilitybenefit if approved begins on the sixth month of the disability.

The Social Security Disability Benefits is reduced when membershave other government disability benefits. The standard rule forthe amount of disability payments that a member or his/herfamily is supposed to receive must not exceed 80% of theaveraged earning before a member becomes disabled.

The Social Security Benefits is given until the member’scondition improves and returns to work. However, if ever themember didn’t recover from his or her disability the disabilitybenefit continues as well as the Medicare benefit.

For suggestions and comments kindly visit Los AngelesSocial Security Disability Attorney

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About the author:Jinky C. Mesias is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts and Sciencesin Business Administration Major in Business Management. She isat present an Associate Manager of a Life Insurance Corporationand a freelance writer.