Good day! A series of unexpected events in 2020 has caused many people to apply for their Social Security benefits earlier than planned. These contingencies include the loss of a job or clients, a reduction in working hours, or the almost mandatory decision to retire from work. Unfortunately, those who have not taken care of their Social Security until now will likely find that they cannot collect these benefits because they did not work the minimum time necessary or worse, the majority of their earned income is not credited. If you still do not qualify for your Social Security, today we will explain how you can deal with this matter, whether it is getting the evidence of the missing income, continuing to work – if possible – or leaving it as is.
Each Social Security benefit has different rules. However, to qualify them, you or the person under whose record you are applying for benefits – as a spouse, child, widower, divorcee, or surviving dependent parent – must have paid Social Security while working and accumulated a certain minimum amount. of credits, which vary according to the requested benefit. Clarify doubts with us about how these credits accumulate.
Open your personal mySocialSecurity account at www.segurosocial.gov to regularly verify the proof of all your earned income. If you were unable to register, contact your local Social Security office by entering your residence zip code at https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp
From an early age, review your earnings record to avoid future surprises. If you have accumulated the minimum credits necessary to qualify for any benefits, mySocialSecurity will show you estimates for retirement, disability, dependents and survivors. If you have not accumulated them yet, it will tell you how many credits you would need to qualify for in the future. In that case, you would have to obtain evidence of unproven income or, if possible, continue working until you secure these benefits.
In general, every employer must annually provide each employee with a withholding statement – W2 form – as evidence of their wages. Keep this evidence until you verify that these wages are credited to Social Security. People who are self-employed, provide professional services or operate their own business have to pay their Social Security directly by filing the federal 1040PR return with Federal Internal Revenue (IRS) before certain deadlines. For details, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
In general, to qualify for our retirement benefits, you must have accumulated at least 40 credits in at least ten years of work and meet other requirements. The earliest age to collect reduced retirement benefits is 62.
Suppose that Kiki, Cuqui and Coco applied for their retirement benefits at age 62, but they did not qualify because they had not accumulated the 40 credits. They still lacked 12 credits that could be those three years that they do not appear credited from the same company where they were employed. This company closed operations and we cannot locate the employer. What happened to Kiki, Cuqui and Coco?
Kiki had kept copies of her W2s, so we were able to credit her for the missing income, and she is enjoying her retirement benefits accordingly.
Cuqui had NOT kept her W2s, so she would have to get a job to accumulate the missing credits. In good health and spirits, Cuqui returned to work. Although she was not insured to collect retirement at age 62, she will probably be able to collect them within three years, after accumulating the missing credits.
And Coco? Unfortunately, Coco had no evidence of her missing income so her only option would be to work an additional three years to qualify for retirement in the future. Although in good health, Coco never looked for a job and continued to regret that she cannot collect her Social Security withdrawal. In fact, all her neighbors hear her sing that Mexican melody at midnight; “Oh my Llorona in sky blue … even if my life costs me, Llorona, I won’t stop loving you … Ay, ay, ay! “. And time passed and Coco did not collect Social Security withdrawal at 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 70 or 80.
Orient yourself with us about other requirements, as well as the credits necessary to qualify for our disability, dependents, survivors and Medicare benefits.
We continue to work during the pandemic, although we are unable to receive visitors until further notice. Get oriented by accessing our automated services at 1-800-772-1213 or by calling your local Social Security office directly, after entering your zip code – at https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp.
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