How Social Security Works

今天大约有6800万人享受某种形式的社会保障福利, including retirement, disability, survivor, and family benefits. (Source: Fast Facts & Figures About Social Security, 2019) Although most people receiving Social Security are retired, you and your family members may be eligible for benefits at any age, depending on your circumstances. 考虑到这一点，我们今天想花点时间来概述一下社会保障是如何运作的.

社会保障体系基于一个简单的前提:在你的整个职业生涯中, 你通过缴纳社会保障税或自雇税，将收入的一部分存入信托基金. Your employer, if any, contributes an equal amount. In return, 当你最需要的时候，你会得到一定的福利，比如退休或残疾时，这些福利可以为你提供收入, for instance. 你的家庭成员也可以根据你的收入记录获得福利. 你和你的家庭成员得到的福利数额取决于几个因素, including your average lifetime earnings, your date of birth, and the type of benefit that you’re applying for.

你的收入和你所缴纳的税款由你的雇主向社会保障局(SSA)报告, or if you are self-employed, by the Internal Revenue Service. SSA使用你的社会安全号码来跟踪你的收入和福利.

你可以通过在社会保障网站注册我的社会保障账户来了解更多关于未来社会保障福利的信息, ssa.gov, so that you can view your online Social Security Statement. Your statement contains a detailed record of your earnings, as well as estimates of retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. 如果你没有注册一个在线帐户，还没有收到福利, you’ll receive a statement in the mail every year, starting at age 60. 你也可以使用社会保障网站上的退休估算计算器, 以及其他福利计算器，可以帮助你估计残疾和幸存者的福利.

Social Security eligibility

了解社会保障如何运作的一个关键组成部分是资格. When you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn credits that enable you to qualify for Social Security benefits. 你每年最多可以获得4个学分，这取决于你的收入. 大多数人必须积累40个学分(10年的工作)才有资格获得社会保障退休福利, 但需要更少的积分才有资格获得残疾福利或他们的家庭成员有资格获得幸存者福利.

Your retirement benefits

你的社会保障退休福利是基于你在整个工作生涯中的平均收入. 你开始领取社会保障退休福利时的年龄也会影响你的福利金额. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. Full retirement age increases in two-month increments thereafter, until it reaches age 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.

但你不必等到完全退休年龄才开始领取福利. 无论你的法定退休年龄是多少，你都可以在62岁时开始领取提前退休福利. 这样做有时是有利的:尽管如果你提前退休，你的福利会减少, 你将比那些在完全退休年龄退休的人获得更长时间的福利.

你也可以选择推迟到完全退休年龄后领取退休金. If you delay retirement, 你最终得到的社会保障福利将会高出8%. 这是因为你每推迟领取一个月的退休福利，你就会得到一笔延迟退休津贴, up to age 70. The amount of this credit varies, depending on your year of birth.

Disability benefits

如果你残疾了，你可能有资格获得社会保障残疾福利. 《bet36365线路检测中心》将残疾定义为身体或精神状况严重到足以使一个人至少一年不能从事任何种类的实质性工作. This is a strict definition of disability, so if you’re only temporarily disabled, 不要指望能得到社会保障残疾福利——福利会在你残疾后的第6个月开始发放. And because processing your claim may take some time, 一旦你意识到你的残疾将是长期的，就申请残疾津贴.

Family benefits

If you begin receiving retirement or disability benefits, 你的家庭成员也可能有资格根据你的收入记录获得福利. Eligible family members may include:

Your spouse age 62 or older, if married at least 1 year
Your former spouse age 62 or older, if you were married at least 10 years
你的配偶或前任配偶，不论年龄，如照顾你16岁以下或残疾的子女
Your children under age 18, if unmarried
您的子女未满19岁，如果是全日制学生(12年级)或残疾
Your children older than 18, if severely disabled

每个家庭成员都可以获得高达50%的福利. However, the amount that can be paid each month to a family is limited. 根据你的收入记录，你的家人可以得到的总福利大约是你全部退休福利金额的150%到180%. If the total family benefit exceeds this limit, each family member’s benefit will be reduced proportionately. Your benefit won’t be affected.

Survivor benefits

了解社会保障如何运作的另一个关键概念是遗属福利. 当你死后，你的家人可能有资格根据你的收入记录获得幸存者福利. These family members include:

你的遗孀或前配偶年龄在60岁或以上(或残疾人士年龄在50岁或以上)
你的遗孀或前配偶，不论年龄，如照顾你16岁以下或残疾的子女
Your children under 18, if unmarried
您的子女未满19岁，如果是全日制学生(12年级)或残疾
Your children older than 18, if severely disabled
Your parents, if they depended on you for at least half of their support

你的遗孀或子女也可以在你死后立即获得一次性255美元的死亡抚恤金.

Applying for Social Security benefits

The SSA recommends apply for benefits online at the SSA website, 但你也可以致电(800)772-1213或在当地的SSA办公室预约申请. SSA建议你在福利开始前三个月申请. 如果你正在申请残疾或遗属福利，在你符合条件的时候尽快申请.

这取决于你申请的社会保障福利的类型, you will be asked to furnish certain records, such as a birth certificate, W-2 forms, and verification of your Social Security number and citizenship. The documents must be original or certified copies. If any of your family members are applying for benefits, they will be expected to submit similar documentation. SSA代表会让你知道你需要哪些文件，并帮助你获得任何你还没有的文件.

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Understanding Social Security – How Social Security Works