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A special supplement to The Daily Nonpareil

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Social SecuritySocial Security

Retire on your own termsSee Page 5F

Why young workers should careSee Page 4F

Best ways to do businessSee Page 6F

Quick questions:Have you changed

your name?Have you had a baby?Have you started to

receive benefits?

Liz KaestnersociaL security, operations supervisor, omaha

March is Women’s History Month.The Social Security program treats all workers –

men and women – exactly the same in terms of the benefits they can receive. But women may want to familiarize themselves with what the program means to them in their particular circumstances. Understand-ing the benefits may mean the difference between living more comfortably versus just getting by in retire-ment.

One of the most significant things women need to remember about Social Security is the importance of promptly reporting a name change. If you haven’t told us of a name change, your W-2 may not match the information in Social Security’s records and this could affect the amount of your future benefits. Not changing your name with Social Security also can delay your fed-eral income tax refund.

To report a name change, please fill out an Applica-tion for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5). You can get the form by visiting socialsecurity.gov, or any Social

Security office or card center, or by calling Social Secu-rity’s toll-free number, 1 (800) 772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You must show us certain identity documents, including one recently issued to prove your legal name change.

If expanding your family is in your plans, it’s a good idea to apply for a Social Security number for your baby in the hospital, at the same time that you apply for your baby’s birth certificate. Social Security will mail the card to you. If you wait, you must then separately provide evidence of your child’s age, identity and U.S. citizenship status, as well as proof of your identity. Then, we must verify your child’s birth record, which can add 12 weeks to the time it takes to issue a card.

When women start receiving Social Security retire-ment or disability benefits, other family members may be eligible for payments as well. For example, benefits can be paid to a husband:

• If he is age 62 or older; or• At any age, if he is caring for your child (the child

must be younger than 16 or disabled and receiving Social Security benefits on your

record).Benefits also can be paid to

unmarried children if they are:• Younger than age 18;• Between 18 and 19 years

old, but in elementary or second-ary school as full-time students; or

• Age 18 or older and severely disabled (the disability must have

started before age 22).The family of a woman who dies

may be eligible for survivors benefits based on her work.

For more information about women and Social Security, ask for the publication, What Every Woman Should Know (SSA Publication No. 05-10127) or visit our special Women’s page online at socialsecurity.gov/women.

2F Sunday, March 24, 2013 The Daily NonpareilSocial Security

Women and Social Security

All workers are treated equally, but women have particular circumstances

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Your number is your cardBrian Schneider

Social Security, aSSiStant diStrict Manager, oMaha

Often times, people decide they need to apply for a new Social Secu-rity card because they can’t find their old one. As long as you have all of the required information and documen-tation, it’s not difficult to obtain a replacement Social Security card. But here’s even better news: You probably don’t need the card.

When you think about it, your Social Security number is your Social Security card. That is, knowing your number is usually all you’ll ever need. Know your number by heart, and you’ll never leave home without it.

In the event that you really do want or need to get a replacement card, either for yourself or for a child, you can find all the details at socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. The “Get

Or Replace a Social Security Card” page provides information on how to obtain a replacement card and what specific documents you need to pro-vide. Each situation is unique, but in

most cases you simply need to print, complete, and either mail or bring the application to Social Security with the appropriate documentation (origi-nals or certified copies only).

In almost all cases, though, an application for your newborn’s Social Security card and number is taken in the hospital at the same time that you apply for your baby’s birth cer-tificate.

There are a number of reasons a baby or child may need a Social Security number, but the main one is so that you can claim your child as a dependent on your tax return. Your child also will need a Social Security number to apply for certain govern-ment and social service benefits.

Whether you need a Social Secu-rity card for yourself or your child, it’s easy to apply for one. But remember: If you already have one and just can’t find it, in most cases all you really need is to know your number. Memo-rize your Social Security number, and you’ll never leave home without it.

Learn more about your Social Security card and number at socialse-curity.gov/ssnumber.

4F Sunday, March 24, 2013 The Daily NonpareilSocial Security

Tray MccaMpbellSocial SecuriTy, operaTionS SuperviSor, oMaha

Summer will be here before we know it. That means millions of high school and college students will be searching for jobs. Whether a new worker is beginning the career of a lifetime or just earning some extra money for the school year to come, there is one question that is likely to be on each new worker’s mind when they see their first pay stub: Where’s the rest of my money?

Generally, employers are required to withhold Social Security and Medicare tax from a worker’s paycheck. The amounts you pay in Social Security and Medicare taxes are matched by your employer. Usually the money that is withheld is referred to as “Social Security taxes” on the employee’s payroll statement. Sometimes the deduction is labeled as “FICA taxes,” which stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. So let us tell you how that money is being used, and what’s in it for you.

The taxes paid now translate to a lifetime of protection when you eventually retire or if you become disabled. In the event that you die young, your dependent children and spouse may be able to receive survivors ben-efits based on your work. Today you probably have family members – grandparents, for

example – who already enjoy Social Security benefits that your Social Security taxes help provide.

You may be a long way from retirement now, so you may find it hard to appreciate the value of benefits that could be 40 or 50 years away. But consider that your Social Security taxes could pay off sooner than you think. Social Security provides valuable dis-ability benefits – and studies show that a 20-year-old has about a three in 10 chance of becoming disabled sometime before reaching retirement age.

Another bit of helpful advice for young workers: be wary if you’re offered a job “under the table” or “off the books.” If you work for any employer who pays you only in cash, understand that you’re likely not getting Social Security credit for the work you’re doing.

Want to learn more about Social Security and what it means to young workers? If so, we invite you to enjoy a webcast: Social Security 101: What’s In It For Me? The web-cast will fill you in on the details you should know to get the most out of Social Security. Check it out at socialsecurity.gov/webinars/social_security_101.html.

If you have questions about Social Security, the best place to go is online – to socialsecurity.gov.

Why young workers should care

Identity theft – it’s no joke

Judy FranklinSocial SecuriTy, operaTionS SuperviSor, council bluFFS

When the first of April comes, you may be on guard to protect yourself from an April Fool’s Day prank. But every day of the year, you should be wary of identity thieves.

Identity theft is no joking matter. Identity thieves victim-ize millions of people each year.

Identity thieves have some sly tricks to obtain your per-sonal information. They do it by:

• Stealing wallets, purses and your mail;

• Posing by phone or email as someone who legitimately needs information about you, such as employers or landlords;

• Stealing personal informa-tion you provide to an unse-cured site on the Internet, from business or personnel records at work and personal information in your home; or

• Rummaging through your trash, the trash of businesses and public trash dumps for per-sonal data.

Don’t be fooled by identity thieves; take the proper precau-tions. Be sure to safeguard your personal information, such as your Social Security number and mother’s maiden name. If an identity thief scores this

information, it could result in more than monetary loss for you as a victim – it also can hurt your credit score and record.

You can help protect your-self by not carrying your Social Security card with you and not providing your per-sonal information to unknown sources over the Internet or by phone. Be sure to shred any documents, bills, or paperwork before you throw them away. Most important, never reply to an email claiming to be from Social Security that asks you for your Social Security number or other personal information. If you are contacted by someone claiming to be from Social Secu-rity and you have doubts about the validity of the caller, you can call us at 1 (800) 772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

If you think you’ve been the victim of identity theft, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1 (877) IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY 1 (866) 653-4261. Or go to idtheft.gov and click on the link for “Report Identity Theft.” Learn more about identity theft at socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html.

Please don’t let an identity thief make an April fool out of you.

• Nine out of 10 individuals age 65 and older receive Social Security benefits.

• Social Security benefits represent about 39 percent of the income of the elderly.

• Among elderly Social Security benefi-ciaries, 53 percent of married couples and 74 percent of unmarried persons receive 50% or more of their income from Social Security.

Did you know?

Sunday, March 24, 2013 5FThe Daily Nonpareil Social Security

Retire on your own termsDenise Jones

social security, District Manager, council Bluffs

Most Americans are aware that they need to save for retirement. It is a topic that is easy to brush aside to a later date because although the subject is important, it may not seem urgent. But the longer you put off some basic retirement planning, the harder it will be to catch up later.

Now is the perfect time to give it some thought, as National Retirement Planning Week takes place in April.

We’d like to share with you a few important items about Social Security retirement benefits.

When you decide to retire, the easiest and most convenient way to do it is right from the comfort of your home or office computer. Go to socialsecurity.gov where you can apply for retire-ment benefits in as little as 15 minutes. In most cases, there are no forms to sign or documents to send; once you submit your electronic application, that’s it!

In addition to using our award-winning web-site, you can call us toll-free at 1 (800) 772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit the Social Security office nearest you. Either way you choose to apply,

be sure to have your bank account information handy so we can set up your payments to be deposited directly into your account.

Your age when you start to receive Social Secu-rity makes a difference in your benefit amount. The full retirement age (the age at which 100 percent of retirement benefits are payable) has been gradually rising from age 65 to age 67. You can retire as early as age 62, but if benefits start before you reach your full retirement age, your monthly payment is reduced. Find out what your full retirement age is by typing in your year of birth at socialsecurity.gov/pubs/ageincrease.htm.

You also can choose to keep working beyond your full retirement age to take advantage of a larger payment. Your benefit will increase auto-matically each year from the time you reach your full retirement age until you start receiving your benefits or until you reach age 70.

The decision of when to retire is personal and depends on a number of factors. To help, we suggest you read our online fact sheet, When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits, available at socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html.

You may want to consider your options by using our Retirement Estimator to get instant,

personalized estimates of future benefits. You can plug in different retirement ages and scenarios to help you make a more informed retirement deci-sion. Try it out at socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

You’ll also want to take advantage of our latest and extremely popular service by setting up an online my Social Security account. You can use my Social Security to obtain a copy of your Social Security Statement to check your earnings record and see estimates of the retirement, disability and survivor benefits you and your family may receive. Visit socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Another great website for financial plan-ning – whether for retirement or other financial goals – can be found at mymoney.gov. The website features information about how to plan for a host of life events, such as the birth or adoption of a child, home ownership, or retirement. The site also provides money management tools, including a financial savings calculator.

To learn more about Social Security retirement benefits and options, please read our publica-tion, Retirement Benefits, at socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10035.html.

You can retire on your own terms, and we’re here to help.

6F Sunday, March 24, 2013 The Daily NonpareilSocial Security

Best ways to do businessSuSan LewiSSociaL Security,

DiStrict Manager, oMaha

Many people save time by going online to take care of everyday tasks. For example, they shop online to avoid going to crowded malls or stores. They pay bills and check their account balances online to save a trip to the bank.

It’s true of Social Security business, too. You can save a lot of time by visiting socialsecurity.gov.

Here, you can handle much of your Social Security business quickly and securely from your home or office computer. At the Social Security website you can:

• Create a my Social Security account for quick access to your information;

• Get an instant, personalized estimate of your future Social Security benefits;

• Apply for retirement, disability, spouse’s and Medicare benefits;

• Check the status of your benefit appli-cation;

• Change your address and phone num-ber, if you receive monthly Social Security benefits;

• Sign up for direct deposit of Social Security benefits;

• Use our benefit planners to help you better understand your Social Secu-rity options as you plan for your financial future;

• Request a replacement Medicare card; and

• Apply for extra help with your Medi-care prescription drug costs.

Looking for more Social Security infor-mation? Go online to find out almost any-thing you need to know about the Social Security program. Information is available on subjects ranging from how to get a Social Security number for a newborn to returning to work while receiving disability benefits.

And since April 22 is Earth Day, here’s another tip: Going online is good for the planet. It saves more than just your time – it also saves paper, emissions and energy.

If you need to reach us by phone, you can call us toll-free at 1 (800) 772-1213. We treat all calls confidentially. We can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call during the week after Tuesday. We can provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. (You can use our automated response system to tell us a new address or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1 (800) 325-0778.

No matter how you choose to contact us, Social Security is here to assist you. We encourage you to give our website a try. You’ll get fast, convenient service by going to socialsecurity.gov.

Submitted photo

You can save a lot of time by visiting socialsecurity.gov, where you can handle much of your Social Security business quickly from a computer.

DeniSe JoneSSociaL Security, DiStrict Manager, counciL BLuffS

In 1938 – only a couple of years after Social Security was signed into law – a Depression-era, unemployed architect named Alfred Mosher Butts studied the front page of The New York Times to figure out how often each of the 26 let-ters was used. The result was a game he called Criss Cross Words, renamed 10 years later as Scrabble.

In honor of Scrabble’s 75th anniversary, we’d like to challenge you to a word puzzle.

Here are your scrambled letters. What do they spell?

s y s c o i i y e m c u r a t lHere’s a hint: It is Social Security’s hottest

new online service, and you don’t have to scrab-ble to use it.

The answer is: My Social Security.My Social Security is your online account

that provides you quick access to your personal Social Security information. For example, dur-ing your working years, you can use my Social Security to obtain a copy of your Social Security Statement to check your earnings record and see estimates of the future retirement, disability, and survivor benefits you and your family may receive. For people who already receive Social Security or SSI benefits, the my Social Security service is even better this year. You can now sign into your account to view, save and print a benefit verification letter, check your benefit payment information, and even change your address and phone number in our records. You also can start or change your direct deposit information.

Before your next game of Scrabble, we recom-mend you create a my Social Security account so you can always have your Social Security information at your fingertips. Just visit socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Social Security challenges you to a word game

Sunday, March 24, 2013 7FThe Daily Nonpareil Social Security

SuSan LewiSSociaL Security, DiStrict Manager, oMaha

Here are a few important items about Social Security retirement benefits and how to apply for them.

When you work and pay Social Security taxes, you earn “credits” toward Social Security benefits. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (10 years of work) to qualify for retirement benefits.

We determine the amount of your benefit by both how long you work and how much you earn. The higher your lifetime earnings, the higher your monthly benefits. If there were some years when you did not work or had low earnings, your benefit amount may be lower than if you had worked steadily or earned more.

Your age at the time you start receiving Social Security retirement makes a difference in your benefit amount. The full retirement age (the age at which 100 percent of retirement benefits are payable) has been gradually rising from age 65 to age 67. You can take “early retirement” as early as age 62, but if you start collecting benefits before you reach your full retirement age, your monthly payment will be reduced. You can find out what your full retire-ment age is by referring to the convenient chart at socialsecurity.gov/retire2/retirechart.htm

Just as you can choose an early retirement and get a reduced payment, you also can choose to keep working beyond your full retirement age to take advantage of a larger payment. Generally, your benefit will increase automati-cally by eight percent each year from the time you reach your full retirement

age until you start receiving your benefits or until you reach age 70.The decision of when to retire is personal and depends on a number of fac-

tors. To help you weigh the factors, we suggest you read our online fact sheet, When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits, available atsocialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html.

You may want to consider your options by using our Retirement Estimator to get instant, personalized estimates of future benefits. You can plug in differ-ent retirement ages and scenarios to help you make a more informed retire-ment decision. Try it out at socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

You also can set up an online my Social Security account. You can use your my Social Security account to obtain a copy of your Social Security Statement to check your earnings record and see future estimates of the retirement, dis-ability, and survivor benefits you and your family may receive. Visit socialsecu-rity.gov/myaccount.

When you decide to retire, the easiest and most convenient way to do it is right from the comfort of your home or office computer. Go to socialsecurity.gov where you can apply for retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. In most cases, there are no forms to sign or documents to send; once you submit your electronic application, that’s it! You’re done!

Be sure to have your bank account information handy so you can receive your payments electronically. Electronic payment of federal benefits is now mandatory, with few exceptions.

Spring is a great time to turn a new leaf. Spring into retirement now! Learn more by reading our publication, Retirement Benefits, at socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10035.html.

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