Retirement

• Many people collect Social Security benefits after retirement. The age at which you can retire and begin receiving benefits depends on when you were born. Telephone the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or request a statement online to find out when you will qualify for retirement benefits and how much you can expect to receive. Social Security retirement benefits were designed to supplement recipients' incomes after retirement, but some people rely on them completely.
  
  

Disability

• People who cannot work due to a disability may want to collect Social Security benefits. Both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provide monthly benefits to people who cannot work for at least one full year due to a disability or serious medical condition. Eligibility criteria differ slightly; to qualify for SSDI, disabled people must have earned a certain number of work credits before becoming disabled. Children can also collect SSI if they are disabled and their families have limited incomes and resources.
  
  

Death of a Spouse or Parent

• Some people collect Social Security benefits after the death of a spouse or parent. Widows and widowers can receive Social Security survivor benefits if their deceased spouses worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes prior to their deaths. If you are divorced, you may still be able to collect survivor benefits if you were married for at least 10 years. Unmarried children under the age of 19 may qualify for Social Security survivor benefits if a deceased parent worked and paid Social Security taxes before his death.
  
  

Medicare

• The Medicare program, administered by the Social Security Administration, provides health insurance for many elderly and disabled people. Since elderly and disabled people may not be able to access health insurance through employment as many Americans do, Medicare allows them to receive the health-care services they need. It covers inpatient and outpatient medical care as well as prescription medications.