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EPN-Types of SSA Benefits

Types of SSA Benefits:

Social Security offers several types of benefits to eligible individuals. Here’s an explanation of each benefit type:

Retirement benefits are payments made to workers who have paid into the Social Security system for at least 10 years and have reached retirement age. You can start receiving reduced benefits at age 62 or wait until your full retirement age (67 for those born in 1960 or later) for full benefits1. Delaying benefits until age 70 can result in increased monthly payments.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides monthly payments to workers who can no longer work due to a significant illness or impairment expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Eligibility is based on having worked long enough and recently enough while paying Social Security taxes.

SSI is a needs-based program that provides payments to people with limited income and resources who are 65 or older, blind, or have disabilities. Unlike SSDI, SSI does not require a work history.

Spouses of retired or disabled workers may be eligible for benefits based on their partner’s work record. These benefits are available to spouses who are 62 or older, or at any age if caring for a child under 16 or disabled.

Unmarried children of retired, disabled, or deceased workers may be eligible for benefits if they are under 18 (or under 19 if still in high school). Adult children may also qualify if they have a disability that started before age 22.

Social Security pays benefits to the surviving family members of deceased workers. This can include:

  • Widowed spouses aged 60 or older (50 if disabled)

  • Unmarried children under 18 (or up to 19 if still in high school)

  • Dependent parents aged 62 or older

These benefit types form the core of the Social Security program, providing financial support to retirees, disabled individuals, and their families.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program primarily for people aged 65 and older, as well as some younger individuals with specific disabilities or conditions. It’s administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), but the SSA handles Medicare enrollment for most people.

While Medicaid is a joint federal and state program providing health coverage to eligible low-income individuals, the SSA plays a role in determining Medicaid eligibility for SSI recipients in most states.

Although primarily administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the SSA collaborates with the VA to streamline benefit applications for veterans. Some veterans may be eligible for both Social Security and VA benefits.

This SSA-administered program helps people with limited income and resources pay for their Medicare prescription drug program costs.

Some states provide additional payments on top of the federal SSI benefit. The SSA administers these supplementary payments for many states.

These additional benefit types, along with the previously mentioned retirement, disability, dependents, and survivor benefits, form a comprehensive system of support administered or facilitated by the Social Security Administration.