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ROUTING NUMBER: 307070050
By Kirtland Financial Services
Before you receive any Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will need to determine your eligibility. Remember that Social Security is an insurance system designed to pay you benefits during times of economic hardship. Just as a medical insurance plan representative must review your policy coverage before paying your surgical bill, a Social Security administrator must examine your Social Security record to ensure that you are eligible for the type of benefit for which you have applied. Determining your eligibility will mean finding answers to the following questions:
Most people are covered by Social Security. Since Social Security is compulsory, most company employees, members of the armed forces, and self-employed persons participate and will someday be eligible for benefits. Two groups that are excluded from Social Security coverage are railroad workers whose work is covered by the Railroad Retirement Act and federal employees hired before 1984, who are covered under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Special coverage terms apply to other groups, including hospital interns, farm workers, members of religious orders, student nurses, newspaper vendors, and domestic workers. If you are covered by Social Security, you will know it when you look at your paycheck. Currently, 6.2 percent of your pay up to an annual limit of $147,000 (in 2022) is deducted each pay period. A 1.45 percent Medicare tax is also withheld from your pay (no annual limit applies). Your employer matches your tax payments. If you are self-employed, you pay a 15.3 percent self-employment tax on your net earnings to finance Social Security.
Your insured status is the foundation of any benefit claim. You are considered insured when you have acquired a certain number of Social Security credits. These credits are also known as quarters of coverage. Covered workers receive credits based on their annual earnings. Every year, the earnings necessary to earn one credit increase according to how much the national average wage has increased. In 2022, you earn one credit for every $1,510 in earned income, up to a maximum of four credits per year.
The number of credits you earn in a year depends upon how much money you made, not how many months you worked. For instance, if you work for two months in 2022 and make $3,020, you will have earned two credits ($1,510 x 2). If you work six months and make $3,020, you will also have earned two credits. To earn three credits, you would have to earn at least $4,530 ($1,510 x 3). To earn four credits for the year, you would have to make at least $6,040, the income required to earn the maximum number.
If you earn $3,020 in 2022, you will earn two credits. If you earn $3,775, you will still earn only two credits, not two and one-half credits, since credits are awarded in whole units only.
You’re never too old to earn credits. Unless you’ve already reached the maximum credits possible (40 credits), any income you have that is subject to Social Security taxes can earn you more credits, even if you are already old enough to retire.
Once you earn the credits, they’re yours to keep, even if you never work again.
The size of your benefit check has nothing to do with how many credits you have earned. They only determine what type of benefits for which you might be eligible.
Determining your insured status is important because if you have not acquired the credits necessary to receive Social Security benefits, your claim will be denied even if you meet other eligibility requirements. Generally, you need to be fully insured to receive Social Security benefits, but other requirements may also apply. Once you are fully insured you are also permanently insured and you will not lose your fully-insured status if you stop working under covered employment.
Obtaining fully insured status means that you are entitled to full Social Security benefits. To become fully insured you must:
Example A: John died after suffering a head injury. He was 45. He had earned 30 credits during his lifetime. Because he had earned at least one credit for every year that had elapsed between the year he turned 21 and the year he died, he was fully insured, and his survivors were entitled to benefits based on his Social Security earnings record.
A special rule applies to survivors benefits. Even if you didn’t earn the number of credits needed before your death, your children and your spouse who is caring for the children can get benefits if you have credits for one and one-half year’s work (6 credits) in the three years just before your death.
If you have earned at least 20 credits during the last ten years and you are fully insured you have disability-insured status. Exceptions apply for those under age 31 and in certain other cases.
In general, you can receive Social Security benefits if you meet the eligibility requirements for your type of claim. The following table outlines the basic requirements for beneficiaries but does not include all eligibility requirements.
Beneficiary | Age Required | Conditions |
---|---|---|
Retired worker | 62 or over | Fully insured |
Disabled worker | Under full retirement age | Disability is expected to last for at least 12 months or end in death |
Spouse of retired or disabled worker | 62 or over | Must be entitled to benefits on worker's record |
Spouse of retired or disabled worker with child | Any | Must be caring for a child under age 16 or a disabled child of any age who is entitled to benefits on worker's record |
Surviving spouse of worker | Any | Must be caring for a child under age 16 or child disabled before age 22 |
Surviving spouse of worker | 50-59 | Disabled |
Surviving spouse of worker | 60 or over | Unmarried |
Divorced spouse of retired or disabled worker | 62 or over | Married to worker at least 10 years, currently unmarried |
Dependent child of retired, disabled, or deceased worker | Under 19 | Unmarried, full-time student at elementary or secondary school |
Dependent child of retired, disabled, or deceased worker | 18 or over | Disabled before age 22 |
Parent(s) of worker | 62 or over | Parents were dependent on deceased worker's support |
When you file your claim for benefits, you may be asked to submit proof of age, family relationship, school attendance, and, in some cases, citizenship. These documents will be used to support your application for benefits and determine if you are eligible for them.
Social Security benefits are not automatic. To receive benefits, you must apply for them online or by making an appointment at your local Social Security office or by calling the SSA (see below). You should file promptly in person, by mail, or by phone.
If you have any questions about filing a benefit claim, or want information regarding eligibility for benefits, call the SSA at (800) 772-1213 or visit its website at ssa.gov.
This article was prepared by Broadridge.
LPL Tracking #1-05095015
Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Kirtland Federal Credit Union and Kirtland Financial Services are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Kirtland Financial Services, and may also be employees of Kirtland Federal Credit Union. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Kirtland Federal Credit Union or Kirtland Financial Services. Securities and insurances offered through LPL or its affiliates are:
Not NCUA Insured or Any Other Government | No Credit Union Guaranteed | Not Credit Union Deposits or Obligations | May Lose Value |
The LPL Financial registered representatives associated with this website may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.
Kirtland Federal Credit Union (“Financial Institution”) provides referrals to financial professionals of LPL Financial LLC (“LPL”) pursuant to an agreement that allows LPL to pay the Financial Institution for these referrals. This creates an incentive for the Financial Institution to make these referrals, resulting in a conflict of interest. The Financial Institution is not a current client of LPL for advisory services.
Please visit https://www.lpl.com/disclosures/is-lpl-relationship-disclosure.html for more detailed information.
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Routing Number: 307070050
6440 Gibson Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
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