The term "senior citizen" usually applies to people who are over sixty years of age. It is during that time you start considering your future. Social Security is probably the first thing you start thinking about. Most people don't stop working as soon as they are eligible, which is when they turn 62. I did though. You have to weigh your options. As for me, I wasn't working at a job and I needed the money. I felt if I didn't apply then I'd be dead by the time I was. You have to be 61 years and 9 months old before you can apply for your benefit. I applied online, which made the process easy. A representative called me back within a week or so and I was set. In March of 2014 is when I applied and my checks started coming about four months later. On Social Security's website they say you should apply four months before you want your check to start. Don't feel bad about applying for it, because you worked for it and it is your money.
For many women, their jobs did not take out for Social Security. Being a wife and stay at home mother will not provide any credits toward your own benefit. Though you can draw it based on your husband's benefit. In the beginning I got two separate checks from Social Security. One was Social Security retirement based on my own credits. The other was from my husband's benefit and that came from Social Security Disability because that was what he was getting. When he turned 65 though, his changed to the regular retirement and so did mine. Then I started getting only one check because they combined those checks.
When people are younger they do not usually consider retirement or being a senior citizen. So many people I know have worked "under the table" or "off the books" and they will pay for that later on. Many will end up applying for Social Security Income (known as SSI) if they have no credits or never married. That is pretty low and it will be a struggle to survive on that. My advice is to keep an eye on those Social Security credits and try to build your own up based on your record, not your spouses'. If your income falls below the 2020 monthly SSI benefit of $783.00 and you are 65, you qualify for SSI. Even if you do not have any disability. Some states will also include a monthly benefit if you qualified for the SSI. It will also qualify you for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as food stamps. Medicaid will also be available too. The amount you will get from SSI will be the difference between your Social Security retirement or disability check and the the SSI benefit of $783.00. Not a lot of money, but every bit counts.
I found the representatives from Social Security very helpful to me. They tried to find the best outcome for me to live comfortably on. I had been married before and they compared my divorced spouse's record with the current one to see which one I would have the most amount of money from. If you are able to work though, you can do that and receive your Social Security check also. Better check the limits on how much you can earn so as not to have your check cut. I am not sure of that information but it is on their website.
For people who worked their whole life with no breaks there should be no problem with retiring on Social Security. Many will own houses and have pensions and possibly savings to live on. Unfortunately for people who have gone through divorces or other life events, those things may not exist anymore. Instead of getting depressed about it, start your research and see what you can do for yourself. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and do what you have to do. The silver lining in that cloud for me, was being able to live on my own with food, medical care and a very nice home. I did not have that before I got my Social Security. I still have physical limitations, but I am able to deal with those easier now. Good luck to you in whatever you choose to do.
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