Job termination or a reduction in hours can result in a loss of retirement and health benefits. However, employees and their families may have rights under Federal law that can help protect benefits when employment changes.  This publication provides information on the laws that protect your benefits when facing job loss and where you can go for further information. 
For Spanish article click here.

The Social Security Retirement Planner provides detailed information about your Social Security retirement benefits under current law and points out things you might want to consider as you prepare for retirement.

For using in preparing tax returns.

Social Security Administration

This chart lists for each birth year the full retirement age and the amount by which the benefit is reduced if taken at age 62 rather than at the full retirement age. The chart also includes examples based on an estimated monthly benefit of $1000 at full retirement age.

Social Security Administration

Find out if you are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. Information also provided on how your earnings and age can affect benefits and what you should think about in deciding when to retire.

Help people improve personal finance behaviors leading to financial security in later life, enhance the capacity of local educators and their partners to deliver effective programs, and increase economic vitality and quality of life for families and communities.

Social Security Administration

Information about the receipt of benefits while working, different kinds of earnings and how they are counted towards benefits, maximum taxable earnings, credits needed to be eligible to receive benefits, the windfall elimination provision, the government pension offset, and income tax and Social Security benefits.

Social Security Administration

Apply online for retirement or spouse's benefits or disability benefits, check the status of your application, or request an appeal if benefits were denied.

This special edition of the FDIC Consumer News is a guide for seniors and their families, topics include information pertaining entirely to seniors’ issues such as retirement strategies; how to avoid fraud; and annuity investing.  Readers will find practical suggestions and reliable information about how to maintain financial stability and independence during the retirement years.   The FDIC Consumer News can be accessed online or ordered online for free.

Sign up for direct deposit for your Social Security benefits so you’ll receive your money even if you can’t get your mail.

GoDirect offers a safe way for consumers to receive Social Security and other federal benefit payments.

Job termination or a reduction in hours can result in a loss of retirement and health benefits.  However, employees and their families may have rights under Federal law that can help protect benefits when employment changes.  This toolkit provides many resources to help employees facing job loss or a reduction in hours with information about their benefit rights to help them make informed decisions.  Many of the materials included on this page are available in Spanish.

More Americans feel added stress and anxiety about their financial future as talk of rising consumer debt, falling housing prices, rising costs of living, and declining retail sales bring up worries about the nation’s economic health. Money is often on the minds of most Americans. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association’s 2007 Stress in America survey, money and work are two of the top sources of stress for almost 75 percent of Americans. Add to the mix headlines declaring a looming economic recession, and many begin to fear how they can handle any further financial crunch.

Financial security is the ability to meet future needs while keeping pace with day-to-day obligations. Preparing for retirement and potential long-term care costs takes planning, saving, and debt control. This Cooperative Extension initiative seeks to help people improve personal finance behaviors leading to financial security in later life, enhance the capacity of local educators and their partners to deliver effective programs, and increase economic vitality and quality of life for families and communities.

Social Security Administration

To protect everyone's privacy, any person who wants to start or change direct deposit for Social Security benefits must request it for themselves.

Financial security is the ability to meet future needs while keeping pace with day-to-day obligations. Preparing for retirement and potential long-term care costs takes planning, saving, and debt control. This Cooperative Extension initiative seeks to help people improve personal finance behaviors leading to financial security in later life, enhance the capacity of local educators and their partners to deliver effective programs, and increase economic vitality and quality of life for families and communities.

Important information for workers who have lost their jobs about protecting their retirement and health benefits to help them make informed decisions.
For Spanish article click here.

Getting in shape financially is vital to a person’s overall well-being. For senior citizens, people with disabilities and others who receive federal benefits including Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) by check, switching to electronic payments is a simple, but important step toward improving their financial fitness.  One of the options for electronic payments that Treasury suggests as an easier alternative to checks is "Direct deposit".  Benefit recipients who use direct deposit can access their payments as soon as their bank or credit union opens on payment day.

Did you know that a person retiring at age 65 spends an average of 18 years in retirement? Experts estimate that you'll need 70-80% of your pre-retirement income—lower earners will need 90 percent or more—to maintain your standard of living when you stop working. This is based on the assumption that you'll cut out many of your current expenses, like commuting costs, when you retire.

FDIC Consumer News provides practical guidance on how to become a smarter, safer user of financial services. Each issue offers helpful hints, quick tips, and common-sense strategies to protect and stretch your hard-earned dollars. Subscriptions to FDIC Consumer News are available free of charge. Visit www.fdic.gov/consumernews or contact the FDIC Public Information Center. Call toll-free 1-877-ASK-FDIC (1-877-275-3342).