These paragraphs explain insured status, work credits, and retirement benefits.

 

BNI300 — PURPOSE FOR RETIREMENT, SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE

Social Security provides income for workers and their families to replace part of the earnings lost when the worker retires, dies, or becomes disabled. The money comes from the taxes paid by employees, their employers, and self-employed persons.

Eligibility for benefits and the amount of benefits are based on the length of a person's work and on average earnings over a certain period of time.

For an explanation of how long a person needs to work to receive benefits, please read the enclosed pamphlet, How You Earn Social Security Credits.

 

BNI301 — OTHER BENEFITS

We pay Social Security benefits to all persons who meet the requirements. The benefits are not affected by a person's savings, property, insurance, or other possessions.

 

BNI302 — BENEFITS FOR WIDOWS/WIDOWERS

We can pay benefits to widows or widowers at age 60 and to insured persons at age 62, if they file applications and meet all other requirements. We also pay benefits to disabled persons of any age, if they meet certain requirements.

 

BNI303 — HOW TO EARN SOCIAL SECURITY CREDITS

To become insured for benefits, a person needs credit for a certain amount of work covered by Social Security. The number of credits needed will vary with the type of benefit. Please read the enclosed pamphlet, How You Earn Social Security Credits , to learn more about work credits and how they are figured.

 

BNI304 — WORK CREDITS

A person is eligible for benefits based on the number of work credits which he or she earns. We figure the amount of the benefits using the person's average earnings under Social Security.

 

BNI305 — LEAVING JOB COVERED UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY

Since you have earned (number of credits earned) work credits, you are insured for retirement benefits even if you stop working at a job covered by Social Security.

 

BNI306 — EARNINGS NOT INCLUDED IN STATEMENT

If (Option a, b or c) recently gave us information to correct (Option a, b or c) earnings record, the new figures may not appear on the statement. This is because we update earnings statements on a scheduled basis.

Options:

1. a. 

   you/your

2. b. 

   (name) /his

3. c. 

   (name) /her

    

BNI307 — WHEN TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS — FIRST PARTY

When you are ready to apply for benefits or Medicare, you should get in touch with one of our offices 3 months before the month when you want your benefits to start.

 

BNI308 — WHEN TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS — THIRD PARTY

When (name) is ready to apply for benefits or Medicare, we suggest that (Option a or b) get in touch with one of our offices 3 months before the month when (Option a or b) wants the benefits to start.

Options:

1. a. 

   he

2. b. 

   she

    

BNI309 — NOT FULLY INSURED — FIRST PARTY

Our records show that you have not worked long enough under Social Security to receive benefits.

Work under Social Security is figured in credits. Please read the enclosed pamphlet, How You Earn Social Security Credits , which explains how the credits are earned and how many a person needs to receive benefits.

To qualify for benefits, you need a total of (total number of credits needed) work credits. You have earned (number of credits earned) credits, and still need (number of additional credits needed) more credits. These figures are based on our records, and on the date of birth you gave us.

 

BNI310 — NOT FULLY INSURED — THIRD PARTY

Our records show that (name) has not worked long enough under Social Security to receive benefits.

Work under Social Security is figured in credits. The enclosed pamphlet, How You Earn Social Security Credits , explains how the credits are earned and how many a person needs to receive benefits.

To qualify for benefits, (name) needs a total of (total number of credits needed) work credits. (Option a or b) has earned (number of credits earned) credits, and still needs (number of additional credits needed) more credits. These figures are based on our records, and on the date of birth you gave us.

Options:

1. a. 

   He

2. b. 

   She

    

BNI311 — FULLY INSURED

Our records show that (Option A or B) now worked long enough under Social Security to qualify for benefits at age 62 or later. (Option C and /or D) .

Options:

1. A. 

   you have

2. B. 

   (name) has

3. C. 

   We may also be able to pay benefits to certain members of (Option a, b or c) family, either as dependents or as survivors when (Option a, b or c) .

   Options:

   1. a. 

      your/you die

   2. b. 

      his/he dies

   3. c. 

      her/she dies

4. D. 

   The enclosed pamphlet, Retirement , gives more information about

   • •

     how long a person must work to receive benefits,AND

   • •

     other family members to whom we can pay benefits.

      

BNI312 — PERSON IS AGE 61 2/3 YEARS OLD OR OLDER

Our local offices process claims for Social Security benefits. Since we do not have (name's) address, we cannot refer your letter to (Option a or b) local office. Please ask (name) to get in touch with any of our offices to get information about filing a claim.

Options:

1. a. 

   his

2. b. 

   her

    

BNI313 — INQUIRY ABOUT BENEFITS

(Name) should get in touch with any of our offices if (Option a or b) has any questions about becoming eligible for benefits.

Options:

1. a. 

   he

2. b. 

   she

    

BNI314 — WORK CREDITS — QUARTERS

Our records show that you earned credit for the quarters of coverage listed below:

(Quarter Ended) or (Year)        (Quarters of Coverage)

The number of credits you actually earned and the number shown on your earnings statement differ because we used an alternate method to figure your credits. The law provides that when a person needs seven or more quarters to be fully insured, as in your case, one quarter of coverage is given for each $400 credited during the years 1937 through 1950 if it is to the person's advantage. We figured your quarters of coverage under this method. This method, however, cannot be used for counting after 1950.

 

BNI315 — EARNED QUARTERS OF COVERAGE PRIOR TO ANNUAL REPORTING — GENERAL

Before 1978, we assigned work credits to the specific calendar quarters in which wages were paid. A calendar quarter is a 3-month period that ends on March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31 of any year. Since 1978, we no longer assign credits to specific quarters in most cases.

 

BNI316 — EARNED CREDITS PRIOR TO ANNUAL REPORTING — REGULAR WAGES

For the years 1937 through 1977, a person received a credit for each calendar quarter in which he or she earned $50 or more from covered work.

 

BNI317 — EARNED CREDITS PRIOR TO ANNUAL REPORTING — SELF-EMPLOYMENT

For the years 1951 through 1977, a self-employed person received four credits for each year that net earnings were $400 or more.

 

BNI318 — EARNED WORK CREDITS — ANNUAL REPORTING

Beginning with 1978, work credits are based on a person's total earnings in a calendar year. There are two types of earnings: wages and self-employment income. We combine both types when we figure the number of credits to be given for a year. (Option a, b and/or c) .

Options:

1. a. 

   A person receives one credit for each (amount) of earnings in (year) .

2. b. 

   A self-employed person needs $400 or more in net earnings to receive credit. Beginning in 1978, a self-employed person receives one credit for each $250 of net self-employment income. For (year) , one credit is received for each $(amount) of net income.

3. c. 

   A person who had both wages and self-employment income in 1978 may receive one work credit if the total of the two kinds of earnings equals $250. This amount was raised to $(amount) in (year) because of increases in average earnings.

ALERT: Use this chart to determine proper fill-in information.

 

BNI319 — RETIREMENT BENEFITS — EXPLANATION

You may be able to receive retirement benefits as early as age 62, but the amount of your check will be reduced permanently. The amount of reduction depends on the number of months you get checks before you reach 65.

If you wait until after age 65 to begin receiving benefits, the amount could be increased to give you credit for months when you did not receive benefits.

These rules will change for people born in 1938 and later. Reduced benefits will still be payable to them at age 62, but the reduction will be larger than it is now. Also, the age at which full benefits are payable will gradually increase until the year 2027, when full benefits will be payable at age 67.

 

BNI320 — NO BENEFIT ESTIMATE GIVEN — EXPLANATION

 

We have not estimated your retirement benefits because our records show you (Option a, b, c, d, e or f) .

Option:

1. a. 

   have filed for Social Security benefits.

2. b. 

   are at or above retirement age.

3. c. 

   have a current or pending claim.

4. d. 

   have at least 120 months of Railroad service.

5. e. 

   have only Medicare qualified government earnings posted to your record.

6. f. 

   have no earnings posted to your record.

    

BNI321 — ESTIMATED AMOUNT

The amount of benefits depends on a person's earnings up to the time a claim is filed.

 

BNI322 — REQUEST FOR PEBES

We are enclosing a Request for Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement . You can fill it out and return it to us to receive an estimate of your future benefits.

 

BNI323 — INSURED PERSON LEAVES COVERED EMPLOYMENT — FIRST PARTY

Your earnings will remain on our records after you are no longer working in a job covered by Social Security. If your work in the future is covered, we will use your additional earnings when we figure your benefit amount.

 

BNI324 — INSURED PERSON LEAVES COVERED EMPLOYMENT — THIRD PARTY

(Name's) earnings will remain on our records after (Option a or b) is no longer working in a job covered by Social Security. If (Option a or b) work in the future is covered, we will use the additional earnings when we figure the benefit amount.

Options:

1. a. 

   he/his

2. b. 

   she/her

    

BNI325 — UNINSURED PERSON LEAVES COVERED EMPLOYMENT — FIRST PARTY

Your earnings will remain on our records after you are no longer working in a job covered by Social Security. If your work in the future is covered, we will use your additional earnings to find out whether you have worked long enough to receive benefits.

 

BNI326 — UNINSURED PERSON LEAVES COVERED EMPLOYMENT — THIRD PARTY

(Name's) earnings will remain on our records after (Option a or b) is no longer working in a job covered by Social Security. If (Option a or b) work in the future is covered, we will use the additional earnings to find out whether (Option a or b) has worked long enough to receive benefits.

Options:

1. a. 

   he/his

2. b. 

   she/her

    

BNI327 — PERSON INDICATES HE/SHE MAY NOT WORK UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY AGAIN

Your earnings will remain on our records after you are no longer working in a job covered by Social Security. We will use your earnings to figure your benefit amount when you retire.

 

BNI328 — INSURED PERSON CONTINUES TO WORK — FIRST PARTY

If you continue to work in a job covered by Social Security after you reach the retirement age, we will consider your additional earnings when we figure your benefit amount.

 

BNI329 — UNINSURED PERSON CONTINUES TO WORK — FIRST PARTY

If you continue to work in a job covered by Social Security, we will use your additional earnings to find out whether you have worked long enough to receive benefits.

 

BNI330 — NO PROVISION FOR NAMING BENEFICIARY — FIRST PARTY

You may not name a beneficiary to receive Social Security benefits based on your work. In the event of a person's death, the law permits benefits to be paid to eligible widows, widowers, children, and dependent parents.

 

BNI331 — NO PROVISION FOR NAMING BENEFICIARY — THIRD PARTY

A person may not name a beneficiary to receive Social Security benefits based on his or her work. In the event of a person's death, the law permits benefits to be paid to eligible widows, widowers, children, and dependent parents.

 

BNI332 — CIVIL SERVICE AND SOCIAL SECURITY

Civil Service Retirement and Social Security are separate programs. Work credits and contributions cannot be transferred from one program to the other. You may receive benefits from both programs, but only if you meet the separate requirements of each one.

 

BNI333 — UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

Unemployment compensation and Social Security are separate programs. To file a claim for unemployment benefits, you should get in touch with the nearest office of your State Employment Service. The address is listed in telephone directories and at your post office.

 

BNI334 — METHOD OF FIGURING ESTIMATES — EXPLANATION

There has been no change in the way which Social Security computes ACTUAL benefits. We have changed the method of computing ESTIMATED future amounts and the way those amounts are expressed. In figuring our previous estimates, we used projections of what the average national wage would have been in the year you would have become eligible for benefits. These estimates were stated in future dollar amounts. The personalized earnings benefits estimates use the current average national wage and are stated in today's dollar amounts.

 

BNI335 — “TODAY'S DOLLARS” — EXPLANATION

The term “today's dollars” in the Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement is intended to reflect the approximate purchasing power of the estimated benefit amount. It is the “present worth of a future amount.”

 

BNI336 — ENCLOSURE

The enclosed Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement (PEBES) gives more complete information about Social Security and how it affects you.

 

BNI337 — HOW PEBES CAN HELP YOU

The PEBES will help you plan your financial future. In most cases it will list your year-by-year Social Security earnings, estimate Social Security taxes you have paid and the number of credits you have. It tells you how many credits you need to qualify for each type of benefit and estimate the amount of retirement, survivors, and disability benefits that may be payable on your record.

 

BNI338 — FREE STATEMENT

To receive a free statement, please complete the enclosed form. Upon receipt, you will receive your PEBES within 4 weeks. If, however, you are 65 or older or have applied for any type of Social Security benefit, you will receive only the statement of your earnings.

 

BNI339 — PAID FOR FREE SERVICE

 

We are sorry that you were misled into paying for one of our free services. The (Name of Company) is a private company and is not affiliated in any way with the Social Security Administration or the Federal Government.

 

BNI340 — PEBES DELAY

We cannot send your earnings statement now because we are checking to see if our record of your earnings is correct. This work may take us up to 6 months. We may need to contact you and/or your employer several times. We will send you a Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement when we are finished.