Jane Burigsay
Courtesy: Social Security Administration
Social Security’s disability program is an important part of our obligation to wounded warriors and their families.
Social Security is a resource for military members returning home with injuries. If you know any wounded veterans, please let them know about Social Security’s Wounded Warriors website: www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors.
The Wounded Warriors website answers many commonly asked questions and also provides useful information about disability benefits, including how veterans can receive expedited processing of disability claims. Benefits available through Social Security are different than those offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application.
The expedited process is used for military service members who become disabled while on active military service on or after Oct. 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occured.
Even active duty military who continue to receive pay while in a hospital or on medical leave should consider applying for disability benefits if they’re unable to work due to a disabling condition. Active duty status and receipt of military pay doesn’t necessarily prevent payment of Social Security disability benefits. Although a person cannot receive Social Security disability benefits while engaging in substantial work for pay or profit, receipt of military payments should never stop someone from applying for disability benefits from Social Security.
Social Security honors our veterans and active duty military members every day by giving them the respect they deserve. Let these heroes know they can count on us when they need to take advantage of their earned benefits. Our webpages are easy to share with your friends and family on social media and by email.
Why Social Security is Important for Women
More women work, pay Social Security taxes and earn credit toward monthly retirement income than at any other time in our nation’s history. Yet, on average, women face greater economic challenges than men in retirement.
Nearly 55 percent of the people receiving Social Security benefits are women. Women generally live longer than men while often having lower lifetime earnings. And, women usually reach retirement with smaller pensions and other assets compared to men. For these three key reasons, Social Security is vitally important to women.
You could be eligible for your own benefits if you worked and paid taxes into the Social Security system for at least 10 years and have earned a minimum of 40 work credits.
Once you reach age 62, you could be eligible for your own Social Security benefit, regardless of whether you are married or not and whether your spouse collects Social Security or not. If you’re eligible and apply for benefits on more than one work record, you generally receive the higher benefit amount.
The sooner you start planning for retirement, the better off you will be. We have specific information for women at www.socialsecurity.gov/people/women. Email or post this link to friends and family you love.
SAVE time by using my social security
Time is one of our most valuable commodities — which is why we are constantly improving our online Social Security resources to make doing business with us easier and faster.
With a my Social Security account, those receiving benefits can change their address and direct deposit information; get proof of their benefits; and request replacement documents, like a Medicare card. If you aren’t currently receiving benefits, you can check your earnings record, get estimates of your future benefits and view your Social Security Statement. In many states, you can even request a replacement Social Security card online. See everything you can do with a my Social Security account and open one today at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
You don’t need a my Social Security account to:
• Select or change the way you receive information from Social Security if you are blind or visually impaired at www.socialsecurity.gov/people/blind.
• Block electronic and automated telephone access to your personal information at www.socialsecurity.gov/blockaccess.
• Apply for extra help with your Medicare prescription drug plan costs at www.socialsecurity.gov/extrahelp.
Be sure to share my Social Security with friends and family. By freeing up their time, they may plan on spending more of their valuable time with the people they love.
Jane Burigsay is Social Security’s public affairs specialist in Hawai‘i.
