THE BASIS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

There are certain bases which the Social Security uselifetime, does not in any way indicate that members
in order to determine the amount of benefits to beare to receive additional benefits. Nonetheless, an
released for each of their member. The Socialincrease in your Social Security contribution may
Security Benefit is based on factors such as date ofincrease your benefits. For those who may have
birth of members, the type of benefit applied for,queries and may want to know your detailed
the amount of earnings and the length ofestimate of your Social Security Retirement, Disability
employment. All these factors are considered inand Survivorship Benefits you may try to visit or call
determining the Social Security Benefits and thethe Social Security Administration. You may be made
Medicare benefits.to fill up a Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate
Other bases for determining Social Security BenefitsStatement. This statement is available by completing
are the so-called Social Security Credits. As membersand submitting a form SSA-7004 to the Social
of Social Security you get credit points for yourSecurity Administration. The Social Security in return
earnings. $900 in earnings can earn a member onewould just mail to you your requested statement.
credit. A member has the chance to earn up aThe Social Security Benefits are usually based on the
maximum of four credits in a year. However, theaveraged total earnings over the members working
amount of earnings needed to obtain one credit isyears. Moreover, the Social Security makes use of a
not a constant that is why every year there is anformula in determining the amount of benefits to be
increase for the amount of earnings required for onegiven to each of their members. And as a standard
credit. The most number of credits required is fortyrule about 42% of you earning goes to your Social
which is about ten years to accumulate. TheseSecurity Benefits. Such is a small price to pay for a
credits are needed in order for a member to becomegreat packaged of future benefits.
eligible for benefits. The disability and the survivorThe Social Security has already provided 44 million
benefits usually require a much lower number ofAmericans with various Social Security Benefits. The
credits.Social Security was created to provide a safety net
However, extra credits obtained during your workingfor all citizens of United States.