<p>FenderGirl has a good point. I am not yet 50, but I’ve been receiving those SS “estimates” in the mail for at least the last 10 years. I thought everyone got them.</p>
<p>I don’t think they come every year anymore–every other year? (Budget cuts)</p>
<p>You can also go online to review your social security account and likely benefits. [Retirement</a> Estimator](<a href=“http://www.ssa.gov/estimator/]Retirement”>http://www.ssa.gov/estimator/)</p>
<p>I received social security benefits for three years on my father’s account when I was in college, after my father retired at age 65. Reagan did away with college-age benefits but children under 18 still get them.</p>
<p>Also, the SSA is very clear that spouses get benefits even if they’ve never worked:
[Retirement</a> Planner: Benefits for your spouse](<a href=“http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/yourspouse.htm]Retirement”>http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/yourspouse.htm)</p>
<p>(Not to make this too political, but it’s one reason same sex couples want marriage benefits.)</p>
<p>^Or if over 18 and still in high school, until graduation.</p>
<p>“but they came as a check made out to the child.” </p>
<p>They come as a check made out to the parent or are direct deposited into the parent’s account until the child turns 18. The parent is the representitive payee before 18. The amount is 1/2 what the parent would get at full retirement, even if the parent retires before full retirement age.</p>
<p>yeah, but if you are in a public pension plan (teacher retirement) and you don’t pay SS on that income, even if you’ve paid a ton of self-employment tax or SS on previous, or 2nd job income, then you are punished, and get a much reduced amount. ie, practically nothing. Even if you’ve paid plenty for many years. Check with SS. I worked for 10 years before teaching, and continue to pay SS on business income and my H’s 2nd job. We’re both teachers and we’ll be penalized big time when it comes to SS benefits.</p>
<p>ellemenope, I still get mine every year so I’m not sure. Do they only send them to you once you have worked your 40 quarters to qualify for medicare? I don’t think I got them when I was younger but I’m sure I’ve gotten them the past 5 years or so… I have them all filed away.</p>
<p>I only save the most recent one or two…</p>
<p>sopranomom, in some states teachers pay into both their retirement system and into Social Security. I’m wondering if that’s an option they pursue or if it’s dependent on state law.</p>
<p>I will NEVER be able to collect on my husband’s SS earnings. I’m a teacher in CT, one of the states where teachers do not contribute to SS…and where SS benefits are significantly reduced even IF someone has contributed to SS in other states or in other jobs. I worked contributing to SS for a number of years (enough to get Medicare…some teachers don’t have eligibility for that in CT). My SS benefit will be about $100 a month. Without the offset from my retirement benefits here in CT, my SS benefit would have been over $300 a month. About a 2/3 reduction. </p>
<p>It’s fine, as I knew that was how it was when I moved here. BUT really, I’d love to collect half of my husband’s benefit…even WITH a 2/3 reduction I’d be getting a LOT more than $100 a month.</p>
<p>i’m with soprano and thumper.</p>
<p>i have significant ss earnings pre-teaching years, but that won’t matter either. </p>
<p>i have asked if i can decline my teachers retirement and i am told that isn’t an option. it’s disappointing to think how long i have worked before teaching, how long i have taught, and how little it will prove to aid in my retirement years.</p>
<p>i have never depended on either of these for my retirement, it is just annoying to see how much has been paid into both ss, trs and surs only to see how little will ever be seen again.</p>
<p>sopranomom92-depends on the state–teachers here pay into both their pension funds (at a REQUIRED 8% of their salary) and into social security (at another 6-7% or whatever).</p>
<p>So does this spousal benefit also apply to medicare?</p>
<p>Medicare isn’t social security dependent, however if you receive social security there are some automatic enrollment things that happen. If you have been a “homemaker” for your adult life, you will qualify for Medicare.</p>
<p>mncollegemom…the STATE defines whether teachers contribute to SS…or not…while they are teaching. I believe there are six states where teacher do not contribute at all, and where there is a SS offset meaning that IF you worked and contributed to SS, your SS benefit is significantly reduced by your teachers retirement pension.</p>
<p>I do believe that folks who enter teaching here with MANY years of SS earnings DO collect SS as well…those would be folks who perhaps retired from another profession or changed careers later into their previous career years. BUT those who work the majority of their time here in CT as teachers have that offset provision. It’s part of the law here…no choices and something those entering teaching as a second career need to consider.</p>
<p>Teachers NOW do contribute to Medicare. I believe that those newly hired after 1998 contribute…others do not. That was/is a huge issue for CT teacher retirees…and NO we don’t get “free” health insurance for life. It would have cost me the same rate as the COBRA rate to continue my coverage with our local BOE…individual plan was about $700 a month. The State Teachers Retirement Board contributes $110 a month…but I made contributions to that health insurance part of the fund.</p>
<p>AND MN…if you’ve been a CT teacher your whole life, you do NOT qualify for Medicare…you just don’t.</p>
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<p>Interesting you think this. On my SS statement it clearly states that I have worked enough SS “credits” to be eligible for Medicare…meaning that I contributed to the SS system and Medicare enough to get this benefit.</p>
<p>Lots of info here. I’m realizing I left out an important part – I’m 49, and probably won’t retire for a long long time. If I understand this issue correctly, H can only collect 1/2 if I am also collecting, right? So if I’m still working (i.e., not retired, not collecting benefits) he cannot collect anything (regardless of how old he is).</p>
<p>thumper1 - IL is the same; you basically have a choice, but teacher’s retirement amounts to more than SS, so teachers always choose the teacher’s retirement, and are never eligible for SS. One of my best friends is a divorced retired teacher and will never be eligible for SS, nor any SS from her ex from when they were married. They even tried to write it into the divorce agreement, that once he retired, he would give her some of his SS, but not tie it into SS, and they can’t even do that.</p>
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<p>Just clarifying…in CT, public school teachers do not have a choice about contributing to SS. Teachers simply do not…and partake in the state teachers retirement.</p>
<p>BUT it’s those who have worked and contributed to SS in the past (perhaps before moving here or in other careers) who would love to get their full SS benefit…but can’t.</p>