Q&A about SSA

Question:

I lost my Social Security card, should I get a new one?

Answer:

Knowing your Social Security number is what is important. The only time you may need the actual card is when you start a new job. However, if you need to replace your Social Security card, you can do so free of charge. Remember, you are limited to three replacement cards in a year and 10 during your lifetime. Learn more about your Social Security card and number at: www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. Learn more about Social Security by visiting our website at www.socialsecurity.gov or call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).


Question:

How can I see an estimate of my Social Security retirement benefit at several different ages?

Answer:

To see your estimated retirement benefit at age 62, full retirement age, and age 70, we suggest you refer to your most recent Social Security Statement, which we mail to you every year about two to three months before your birthday. In addition, use our online Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator to get a retirement benefit estimate based on current law and real time access to your earnings record. The Retirement Estimator lets you create additional "what if" retirement scenarios, so that’s the perfect place to plug in alternate retirement ages as you wish to do. You can test even more alternatives such as your “stop work” dates or expected future earnings to create and compare different retirement options that may be in your future. Learn more about Social Security by visiting our website at www.socialsecurity.gov or call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Question:

All my life I have planned on retiring at age 62, but I heard the retirement age is rising to 67. Does this mean five more years of work for me?

Answer:

Not unless you want to continue working. While it is true that the full retirement age is gradually rising to 67, early retirement remains at age 62. So if you go ahead with your plans to retire early, your benefits will be reduced. You also should know that if you choose to keep working even beyond your full retirement age, you can increase your future Social Security benefits. With delayed retirement credits, your benefit will increase automatically by a certain percentage from the time you reach your full retirement age until you start receiving your benefits or until you reach age 70. For example, if you were born in 1943 or later, we will add 8 percent per year to your benefit for each year that you delay signing up for Social Security between your full retirement age of 66 and age 70. That's a 32% increase! Check out our online Retirement Estimator, which you can use to get quick and accurate estimates of your retirement benefits based on different scenarios, at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. Or read the When to Start Receiving Benefits fact sheet at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10147.html.

Q&A about SSA

By Linda Zamfino
Social Security Administration Public Affairs Specialist in Oakland, CA