NOTE: In all cases, the additional earnings are
credited to the earnings that we average throughout
your working lifetime, not directly to your monthly
benet amount.
Your benets
In addition to retirement benets, we pay survivors
benets to your family when you die. You also
can get benets for you and your family if you
develop a disability. For more information about
these benets, read Understanding the Benets
(Publication No. 05-10024).
If you developed a disability while on active duty
military service on or after October 1, 2001, visit
www.ssa.gov/woundedwarriors to nd out how
you can receive expedited processing of your
disability claim.
When you apply for Social Security benets,
you’ll be asked for proof of your military service
(DD Form 214) or information about your Reserve
or National Guard service.
When you are eligible for Medicare
If you have health care insurance from the
TRICARE or CHAMPVA program, your health
benets may change or end when you become
the Department of Defense, or a military health
benets advisor for more information.
You can work and get
retirement benets
You can retire as early as age 62. But if you do,
your Social Security benets will be permanently
reduced. If you decide to apply for benets before
your full retirement age, you can work and still get
some Social Security benets. There are limits on
how much you can earn without losing some or all
your retirement benets. These limits can change
each year. When you apply for benets, we’ll tell
you what the limits are at that time and whether
work will affect your monthly benets.
When you reach your full retirement age, we
will not withhold your Social Security benets,
retirement benets were withheld due to your
earnings, we will recalculate your benet amount
to give you credit for the months we reduced or
withheld benets due to your excess earnings.
The full retirement age is 66 for people born from
1943 through 1954, and it will gradually increase
to age 67 for those born in 1960 and later. To
help you decide the best time to retire, read
Your Retirement Checklist (Publication No. 05-
10377).
Contacting Us
The most convenient way to do business with us
is to visit www.ssa.gov to get information and use
our online services. There are several things you
your request for an original or replacement
publications; and get answers to frequently asked
questions.
When you open a personal my Social Security
account, you have more capabilities. You can
review your Social Security Statement, verify your
earnings, and get estimates of future benets. You
can also print a benet verication letter, change
your direct deposit information (Social Security
beneciaries only), and get a replacement SSA-
1099/1042S. Access to your personal my Social
Security account may be limited for users outside
the United States.
If you don’t have access to the internet, we offer
many automated services by telephone, 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, so you may not need to
speak with a representative.
If you need to speak with someone, call us toll-
free at 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number,
1-800-325-0778, if you’re deaf or hard of hearing.
A member of our staff can answer your call from
8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. We
provide free interpreter services upon request. For
quicker access to a representative, try calling early
in the day (between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. local time)
or later in the day. We are less busy later in the
week (Wednesday to Friday) and later in the
month.
Social Security Administration
Publication No. 05-10017
Military Service and Social Security
Produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense