#help.tut Extra help for tutorials #define.stb On line glossary- definitions of legal terms /* R FRINGE COMMENTARY- Here's the Official U.S. Government Social Security Question and Answer database.*/ SOCIAL SECURITY DATA BASE Welcome. Following is information on the benefit programs available through Social Security, including information for tax payers building protection under Social Security. If you require additional information, contact your local Social Security office. SSA-133 What You Can Expect When You Visit A Social Security Office When you visit a local Social Security office you can expect the people you deal with to treat you in a courteous and professional manner. They will help you when you decide to apply for benefits and will help you get in touch with other agencies that may be able to help you. The people in the office will give you answers to your questions about Social Security. And they will keep in confidence the information that you provide. If you visit an office to apply for benefits or to get an estimate of benefits, they will ask you for certain information about your previous work or your spouse's previous work. They may also ask you for certain proofs of your identity or citizenship. You should have these available when you go. Other sections of this data base list the specific proofs and other information you might need. If you have to contact us, try the telephone first. Most of your business can be handled by phone. If you want to visit in person, you are welcome. The best time to visit is during the last half of the month. But if your business is urgent, you should contact us anytime. Following is information on the benefit programs available through Social Security, including information for tax payers building protection under Social Security. If you require additional information, contact your local Social Security office. Explanation of How To Apply To apply for a Social Security number you need to fill out a form called "Application For A Social Security Number", form SSA-5. You can do this at any Social Security office. When you apply you will also have to furnish evidence of your date of birth, identity, and U.S. citizenship or lawful admission status. You must apply in person if you are 18 or older and have never had a Social Security number. You must also apply in person if you are a citizen of another country whose immigration documents should not be mailed. If you are applying for a Social Security number for your child or a child for whom you are the legal guardian or legal custodian, you must furnish evidence of your identity in addition to evidence of the child's age, identity, and citizenship. If you are applying for a replacement card or if you are changing your name or other information on your record, you must provide evidence to establish your identity. If you are a naturalized citizen or legal immigrant, you must also provide evidence of your current U.S. citizenship or immigrant status. This also applies to you if you were once a U.S. citizen but no longer are. For a change of name request, the evidence you bring should show both your old name and your new name. Any documents you provide are subject to verification with the agency that issued them. Please do not submit uncertified photocopies of documents. We must see either the original document or a copy certified by the agency which issued it. We will return any document you send to us. If you need help in obtaining any evidence, contact any Social Security office. It usually takes about 2 weeks to get your Social Security card and number after we receive your application and all the necessary evidence. Evidence You Need If Born In America Evidence Of Age And Citizenship A variety of documents can be submitted as evidence of your date of birth, identity, and citizenship. Following are documents that can be used as evidence of age and citizenship: - Public record of birth established before age 5 is preferred, should be submitted if possible; - Religious record of birth or baptism established before age 5; - Hospital record of birth established before age 5. If these records do not exist, please submit one or more of the documents listed under "Evidence Of Identity". At least one document must show your name, age or date of birth, and place of birth. It should be at least one year old. Evidence Of Identity Following are acceptable evidence of identity documents. Please submit one or more of them. - Driver's license - State identity card - Voter's registration -School record - School identification card - School report card - Marriage record - Divorce decree - Work badge or building pass - Labor union or fraternal organization record - Draft card or military ID - Military discharge papers - Military dependent's ID - U.S. passport - U.S. citizen's ID card - Newspaper birth announcement - Adoption record - Court order for name change - Church membership or confirmation record - Welfare case record - Doctor, clinic, or hospital record - Vaccination certificate - Insurance policy - Day care or nursery school record - Child's membership in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or other youth organizations - Any other document providing identifying data sufficient to establish proper identification. APPLYING FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER Evidence You Need If Born Outside America If you were born outside the United States and are now a U.S. citizen, you should submit either: 1. U.S. consular report of birth and evidence of your identity. - OR - 2. Your foreign birth certificate, if available, and one of the following; a. U.S.citizen ID card b. Certificate of citizenship c. U.S. military discharge papers showing U.S. citizenship d. U.S. passport e. Naturalization certificate Evidence You Need If Not An American Citizen If you are not a U.S. citizen but are living in or visiting the U.S. and you want to apply for a Social Security number, you should bring in your foreign birth certificate, if available, and one of the following; - Alien registration card I-151 or I-551 - U.S. Immigration Form I-201D, I-94, I-95, I-185, I-186, or I-586 (and I-444 if applicable). Do not mail these documents; bring them to the Social Security office. The Social Security Administration can assign you a Social Security number to use for work only if you have been permanently admitted to the U.S. for residence or are otherwise authorized to work by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). If you are lawfully admitted but are not permitted to work and you apply for a Social Security number for a valid reason other than work, the Social Security Administration will issue you a number. But the card will show that the number is not valid for employment. The Social Security Administration will also mark your Social Security record and if you ever use your number in a job, we will notify INS. In addition, any information obtained in connection with this application can be given to INS. ******************************** HOW AND WHEN TO CONTACT SOCIAL SECURITY ******************************** Social Security Offices The Social Security Administration has over 1,300 offices conveniently located throughout the country. Representatives of these offices also make regular stops in the neighboring communities. To find your nearest Social Security Office just look in the white pages of the phone book under Social Security. When You Should Contact Us Before you or your family can get any Social Security checks, you must apply for them. Get in touch with any Social Security office if: -You're unable to work because of an illness or injury that is expected to last a year or longer. -You're 62 or older and plan to retire. -You're within three months of 65 even if you don't plan to retire. -Someone in your family dies. -You, your wife or husband or your dependent children suffer permanent kidney failure. It's important for you to call, visit, or write any Social Security Office before you reach 65, not only about retirement checks, but also about Medicare, which is available whether or not you retire. You may find it easier to conduct your business with Social Security by telephone. Look in your telephone directory under "Social Security Administration" for the number of the nearest office. If you call Social Security, a supervisor may listen in on your phone call. We do this to help improve our service to the public. You can, of course, ask that we not do this. Your Social Security Card You need a Social Security number if your work is covered by Social Security or if you have certain kinds of taxable income. Your Social Security number is also used for Federal income tax purposes. People should apply for their card at least two weeks before they need it. You will need evidence of your age, identity, U.S. citizenship or immigrant status when you apply. Show your card to your employer when you start work. Upon request, show it to anyone who pays you income that has to be reported. You can apply for a Social Security card at any Social Security office. If you are age 18 or older and never had a Social Security number card, you must apply in person. Otherwise, you can apply by mail or telephone. The number on your card is used to keep a record of your earnings. You need just one Social Security number during your lifetime. Notify any Social Security office if you ever get more than one number. If you lose your Social Security card, contact a Social Security Office to apply for a duplicate of the card you lost. You should also contact Social Security if you change your name to apply for a new card showing your new name. You must have evidence of your identity when you apply for a duplicate or corrected card. If you are a naturalized U.S. citizen or legal immigrant, you must also provide evidence of your current U.S. citizenship or immigrant status. This also applies to you if you were once a U.S. citizen but no longer are. If you are changing your name, the evidence must identify you under both your old and new name. Your employer is required to give you a statement of the Social Security taxes deducted from your pay. This is done at the end of each year. These records, such as form W-2, will help you check on your Social Security record. It's a good idea to check your record every three years to make sure that earnings are being correctly reported to your record. You can get a free postcard form at any Social Security Office for this purpose. When You Apply For Social Security Benefits If you plan to retire before you reach 65, it is important to apply for monthly benefits no later than the month you want benefits to begin. Generally, benefits payable for months before age 65 can begin no earlier than the month you apply. This also applies to widows and widowers who will receive benefits before 65. However, widows and widowers can apply in the month after the worker's death and still get a benefit for the month of death. Generally, benefits can be paid only for months the person is eligible throughout the entire month. In general, if you apply for benefits after you reach 65, back payments can be made for up to six months before the month you apply for retirement or survivor benefits. You can apply, however, up to three months before the month you want benefits to start. This will help assure that you get your first payment on time. When you apply for Social Security benefits, you should have with you: - Your own Social Security card or a record of your number. If your claim is on another person's record, you'll need that person's card or a record of the number. - Proof of your age: a birth certificate or a baptismal certificate made at or shortly after birth if you have one. - Your marriage certificate if you're applying for wife's, widow's or widower's benefits. - Your children's birth certificates if you're applying for them. - Your form W-2 for the last two years or a copy of your last two Federal income tax returns if you're self-employed. This is important because these earnings will not be included in our records and cannot be included when we figure your benefit unless you provide them. Without this information, it could be as long as 24 months before our records show your latest earnings and we can refigure your benefit rate to include them. If you're applying for benefits as a dependent parent of a deceased son or daughter or as a dependent grandchild, you'll need proof that you were being supported by the worker. Generally, this proof must be supplied within two years after the worker dies or applies for cash benefits. An application for the lump-sum death benefit must usually be made within two years after the worker's death. Don't delay applying because you don't have all these proofs. The people in the Social Security office will tell you about other proofs that can be used when you apply.