Learn About Retirement Benefits 
We want you to know what Social Security can mean for you and your family s financial future. In this section , you can learn how Social Security works, who s eligible for retirement benefits, and what to consider before applying. Read on to understand how Social Security fits into your retirement plan. 

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Start your application today Apply Online For Retirement Benefits Jump to a topic on this page : How Retirement Benefits Work / Planning For Retirement / Deciding When To Start Retirement Benefits / What Else Affects Your Retirement Benefits 

How Retirement Benefits Work 
Social Security replaces a percentage of a worker s pre - retirement income based on their lifetime earnings. The portion of your pre - retirement wages that Social Security replaces is based on your highest 35 years of earnings and varies depending on how much you earn and when you choose to start benefits. The Social Security system works like this : when you work, you pay taxes into Social Security. We use the tax money to pay benefits to : People who have already retired. People who are disabled. Survivors of workers who have died. Dependents of beneficiaries. The money you pay in taxes isn t held in a personal account for you to use when you get benefits. We use your taxes to pay people who are getting benefits right now. Any unused money goes to a Social Security trust fund that pays monthly benefits to you and your family when you start receiving retirement benefits. 

Additional Information 
An Overview Of Retirement Benefits Your Retirement Benefit : How It s Figured Benefits For Your Family 

FAQs 
What is the current maximum amount of taxable earnings for Social Security? 

Planning For Retirement 
Planning is the key to creating your best retirement. You ll need to plan and save for years to achieve your retirement goals. While many factors affect retirement planning , we want you to understand what Social Security can mean to you a

user: Hello, I would like to obtain information about retirement benefits

assistant: We want you to know what Social Security means to you and your family's financial future. In this section, you can learn how Social Security works, who is eligible for retirement benefits, and what to consider before applying. Read on to understand how Social Security fits into your retirement plan.

user: What is the full retirement age?

assistant: The full retirement age is the age at which you will be able to collect the full amount of your retirement benefit. The full retirement age is 66 if you were born from 1943 to 1954. The full retirement age increases gradually if you were born from 1955 to 1960 , until he turns 67 years old.

assistant: Were you born after 1960?

user: yes

assistant: For anyone born in 1960 or later, full retirement benefits are paid at age 67. You can find your full retirement age by year of birth in the full retirement age table.

user: what else should i do...

assistant: Set up your financial plan with Social Security

user: and all income is calculated the same?

assistant: there are some types of income that have additional rules

user: At what age should you start receiving benefits?

assistant: The age at which you start collecting your retirement benefit affects the amount you will receive. There are three important things you need to know about age when thinking about when to start your benefits.