Retirement Benefits

• Individuals who have worked long enough under Social Security -- usually 10 years of work -- can receive Social Security retirement as early as the first full month they are at least age 62. A recipient born on November 1 is potentially eligible for November; if born on November 2, his first date of eligibility is December 1. Social Security checks come after the month they are due, so the first benefit check would arrive in January of the following year. The benefit is reduced by 25 percent at age 62. The percentage reduction decreases as the date of retirement approaches full retirement age, at which there is no reduction. Full retirement age is 66 for persons born 1943 to 1954.
  
  

Disability Benefits

• A disabled individual who has worked the required number of years under Social Security can collect the benefits at any age. Medical records Social Security receives from the applicant or requests from his treating sources must establish that his disability will prevent him from working substantially for at least 12 months, or will result in death. The number of years of work required to qualify varies with the age disabled. The minimum is one and one-half years of work for individuals disabled before age 28.
  
  

Widow or Widower's Benefits

• Surviving spouses of individuals who worked under Social Security can receive benefits as early as age 60 if they did not remarry before turning 60. The benefit is reduced to 71 and one-half percent of what the benefit would be if first received at full retirement age. A disabled surviving spouse can receive disability on the account of his late spouse as early as age 50. The benefit rate equals the amount paid aged widows at age 60. If the surviving spouse has the deceased worker's eligible child in his care, he can receive benefits at any age, until the youngest child reaches age 16. A surviving divorced spouse who was married to the deceased at least 10 years can also receive widow's or widower's benefits.
  
  

Spousal Benefits

• The spouse of a worker can receive benefits if she is at least age 62, or at any age if she has custody of the child of the worker on whose Social Security record she can claim benefits. Benefits stop when the youngest child reaches age 16, unless the child has a disability requiring the spouse's care. If the spouse is at least age 62 when the child reaches age 16, she can apply for spouse benefits to continue based on her age.
  
  

Child Benefits

• Dependent children of an eligible or deceased worker can receive benefits until age 18. If the child reaches 18 but is still in elementary or secondary school, benefits can continue until age 19 plus two months, or graduation from high school, whichever comes first. If the child is disabled when she turns 18, or age 19 if a student, benefits can continue if the child is unmarried and found to be disabled. An adult who has no substantial earnings under Social Security can qualify as a disabled adult child at any age on the Social Security record of his parent. The parent must be an eligible retiree or disability beneficiary or deceased. Medical evidence must establish that the disability began before age 22.