The only thing that protects your family in your absence. How much do you get per month with Social Security? The average monthly benefit amount was about $1,300 last year. The maximum monthly benefit is currently set at $2,856.50. Your monthly use can fluctuate depending on how long you have been retired, what state you reside in, and other factors. It also varies based on your work record. You need to earn more credits to collect more significant amounts. Are there different kinds of Social Security? Yes! There are three primary forms of Social Security: FICA, SSI, and Old Age Survivors’ Benefit. Each state pays monthly benefits based upon age, income level, and disability status. FICA This type of Social Security covers wages paid into Social Security during employment. If you work fulltime and earn $50,000 per year, you pay 6% tax on every dollar earned over $250. Your employer matches these contributions 4 cents for each dollar contributed. SSI Supplemental Security Income is designed to supplement the incomes of low-income disabled adults aged 18 to 64 years old. To qualify for SSI, individuals must meet specific financial requirements, including having little or no earnings history. In addition, applicants must show that their disabilities prevent them from working and earning enough money to live independently. Eligibility depends on whether the individual lives alone or with others. Old Age Survivor’s Benefit This type of Social Security is available only to those 65 and older. These payments are used to cover expenses such as nursing home care and medical costs associated with aging. Prices are usually higher than regular Social Security because the recipient receives less when he reaches retirement age. However, recipients may receive reduced payments due to increased cost-of-living adjustments. Is Social Security getting a $200 raise in 2021? No, Social Security isn’t getting a $200 increase next month. According to the SSA, the average annual Social Security payment is currently $1,404. That means if you were born today, you’d start receiving a monthly check of just under $1440 starting January 2020. The average yearly payout hasn’t changed much since 2012. At that point, the average annual pay was $15,903. So while the total amount received annually has gone down slightly, the percentage of your paycheck taken away has remained steady. When a husband dies, does the wife get his Social Security? Your spouse gets half of your Social Security benefits after you pass away. What happens after I reach Full Retirement Age? Once you’ve reached full retirement age, you won’t be eligible for Social Security anymore. After reaching full retirement age, you’ll start collecting your own personal savings accounts instead of Social Security checks. If you haven’t saved anything yet, now is the perfect time to begin saving for retirement. Why should I save for retirement? No. Saving for retirement allows you to build wealth while providing yourself with a secure future. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Social Security will continue its annual increase rate of 2%, which means your yearly payment won’t change in 2021. But if Congress decides to make significant changes to Social Security, like increasing the payroll taxes employers and employees pay, future increases could vary. For now, though, we should enjoy our extra $200 without worrying too much. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, Social Security will increase its benefits by 2%. That means that if you were born after December 31st, 1960, you could expect to receive a total payment of approximately $1,600 next month. For example, if you turn 70 in October 2023, you would receive an unlimited amount of $2,400 instead of $2,100. What is the actual Social Security website? The actual Social Security website has been around for a long time. It’s not new, but it’s still going strong, and many people don’t know about this site or what they can do with it. The actual Social Security website was created by “the National Academy of Social Insurance.” NASI is a non-profit group that provides information on social security benefits to seniors in all 50 states. How do I check on my Social Security benefits? You can go to www.ssa.gov/myaccount/index.html, and you will be able to see your current benefit amount as well as any changes made since last year. You can also sign up for email updates, so you’ll always have access to the most recent figures. How do I contact Social Security Online? If you want to get ahold of someone at Social Security directly, you need to call them. They’re open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 5:30 pm Eastern Standard Time. Their phone number is 1 772-1213. There is no charge to submit a request using this method