Help Me If You Can

@RasmaSandra (80736)
Daytona Beach, Florida
April 21, 2020 9:43pm CST
@DianneN made a good suggestion for one more post for me. I have to, first of all, find out what kind of Social Security I might be looking at. I worked for 8 years in NYC and one job even had us putting away some kind of future benefits. Then I was in Latvia for 20 years and now I need to find out what is or is not due to me. I don’t know where to look and what to do. So if any of you know or have a suggestion please let me know.
The Beatles John Lennon sings Help A Classic. I like the sound of John's voice in this version. Help is one of my early favorites from the Beatles.
27 people like this
25 responses
@FourWalls (69018)
• United States
22 Apr 20
The first thing I would suggest is that you go to the Social Security website and create an account. You can check the estimations that way!
7 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
22 Apr 20
I hope folks get back to you.
6 people like this
@LindaOHio (181717)
• United States
22 Apr 20
I gave her the Social Security website and telephone number.
3 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
22 Apr 20
@LindaOHio Bless you!
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (181717)
• United States
22 Apr 20
@DianneN Thank you! Same back at 'ya.
1 person likes this
@kareng (61739)
• United States
22 Apr 20
@GreatMartin gave you the link below. I believe they have a calculator where you can figure your benefits on the website. Good luck!
3 people like this
@kareng (61739)
• United States
23 Apr 20
@GreatMartin Yes, I know you don't need it. I was just pointing out that you shared the link in case she hadn't seen your post yet.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23672)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
22 Apr 20
I don't need it--I gave it to RasmaSandra who asked for information!
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23672)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
22 Apr 20
I believe you either need 10 years or 10 quarters to collect SS in the USA but go here and when you set up an account you will get ALL the information you need/want! It tells you right on the front page what to do to get what you want/need to know
https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
5 people like this
@GreatMartin (23672)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
24 Apr 20
@RasmaSandra Hope it works out to your benefit!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80736)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Apr 20
Thank you @GreatMartin I have been in touch and they have referred me to the Daytona Beach branch and someone is calling me tomorrow morning.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40320)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Apr 20
@RasmaSandra - I am glad that @DianneN suggested you ask everyone about what you should do. I write a retirement blog called Baby-Boomer-Retirement. com and there is a lot of information on it about Social Security. It is free, so check it out. The first thing you should do is call the Social Security Administration and tell them you would like to collect your benefits. However, since you only lived and worked in the US for 8 years, you may not be eligible. You have to have worked for at least 10 years to get any benefits. Or, if you were married to someone in the United States for at least 10 years, and they are eligible for Social Security benefits, you may be eligible based on their earnings. You really should contact the Social Security Administration. Even if you were living in another country, if you were paying taxes to the US for a couple of years, you could still be eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. The Social Security Administration will have your employment records and let you know what you may be entitled to. If you are close, perhaps you can earn money some way in the US and pay taxes on it for a couple of years, and then you will be eligible. In addition, you should contact the Human Resources Department for the company where you were putting money aside in a 401 (k) or some other retirement plan. That money may still be available to you. You could also contact the State Treasurer's office for the state of New York to see if you have any unclaimed money in bank or brokerage accounts. You need to have all the facts, so you know what you need to do. Contact everyone you can find at the Social Security Administration, your former employer and the State of New York until you have traced every bit of money that may be due you.
3 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
23 Apr 20
@DianneN - I hope it helps her, too. The best way to begin to solve any problem is to gather all the information you can.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
23 Apr 20
@DeborahDiane You’re right. I don’t know if it helped her or not. I didn’t hear back from her.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
22 Apr 20
Thanks for responding, Deborah-Diane! I knew you would have such excellent advice and hope it will help her.
2 people like this
• Agra, India
22 Apr 20
I hope you get your answers soon
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
22 Apr 20
What I understand is that you have a Social Security number. If so, go to mySocialSecurity.gov and create an account. Make sure your records are correct. If you earn more that $600 from any place you work online in a year, they need to report it as well. Then you will take it from there. I see a lot of us mentioning "quarters" and such to you. This site will tell you the right number, etc.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112966)
• El Paso, Texas
22 Apr 20
The only thing I know to do is talk to the SS people but I imagine now is not a good time to do that.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80736)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Apr 20
I have been in touch and they will get back to me from the Florida branch @rebelann
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112966)
• El Paso, Texas
24 Apr 20
Yeah, I'm sure they're in a bind just like all the other government agencies @RasmaSandra
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472081)
• Switzerland
22 Apr 20
As I am not American and never worked in the United States I cannot be of any help, but I see some good suggestions from other users.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (117146)
• Anniston, Alabama
22 Apr 20
For the USA, go to the SS . gov. everything should be there that you want to know.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
22 Apr 20
I am in the exact same boat, that you're in. I worked as a licensed daycare home, for six years. Then, I sold Tupperware for 6 years. They have no history of these jobs, because I didn't make enough money. Thus, I was considered not working. What? Those 12 years, I was doing nothing? 'HELP!'
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80736)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Apr 20
I hope that you can solve your situation too @kobesbuddy there must be a way because my friends who I live within this house have found that my childhood friend who did not work for over 45 years raising kids etc. but of course her husband paid taxes. Well anyway, she is even due for some SS benefits. So never give up and find out what can be done for you.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80736)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Apr 20
@kobesbuddy there should be benefits coming to you. Have you tried to talk to anyone at SS again? It was bad for me in Latvia if I had wanted to stay there they told me right away I would never get any pension benefits no matter that I worked there no matter that I was a citizen. That was the final blow that brought me back to the US besides the memories.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78871)
• East Tawas, Michigan
24 Apr 20
@RasmaSandra We were living on very little money, my job wasn't paying much. I was freshly divorced, with a very sick daughter to care for.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
22 Apr 20
@RasmaSandra On the Internet look up information for Social Security in New York and who to contact or maybe Dianne or anyone here that lives in that area can help you as to who to contact?
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
22 Apr 20
Creating an online account with SS should be the first step. Then you can see earnings.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80736)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Apr 20
@CarolDM What happened with creating a My Account on SS was that the information was not accepted Carol. I called SS and they told me that there is a company that takes care of gathering the information from people who make accounts. Apparently they don't accept the information I give them so they took my information over the phone and a man from the Daytona Beach SS is calling me tomorrow.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Apr 20
@RasmaSandra What a hassle. Good luck with the phone call.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
22 Apr 20
as long as you have a social security number, you have a retirement amount. Eligibility has moved to 65 or older for partial 70 or over for full!
2 people like this
@divalounger (6117)
• United States
22 Apr 20
Hi Rasma--I am looking at the same thing right now. Go to SSA government website and create an account --I think the prompt is "my social security" account--I did that this morning and got an estimate immediately-- Here is the web address for creating that account-- I hope this helps Rasma!!
https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/?gclid=CjwKCAjw1v_0BRAkEiwALFkj5kh5Opie_aKcFgBoadJu5T41HFeWMtIvQJpqddFy5JH_erf2uWKx2BoCpO0QAvD_BwE
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Apr 20
@RasmaSandra Oh good! Good luck--I am kind of in the same boat right now--trying to figure out money as my income is down and my husband's job has been cut 35% and may be cut more--
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80736)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Apr 20
They would not accept my information for a My Account but I called SS and someone from the Florida branch will call me back tomorrow morning @divalounger
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
22 Apr 20
How was Latvia by the way.?
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37379)
• Toccoa, Georgia
22 Apr 20
I have no idea.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Apr 20
I see someone gave you the number for SS, however, no one answers. I had to call there and figured out was not going to get a live person.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80736)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Apr 20
I got a live person who filled out all my information it just takes a while and you have to hang on. It is better early in the mornings @CookieMonster46
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342112)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Apr 20
Hope someone is able to help. Four Walls' idea is good.
2 people like this
@Nakitakona (56486)
• Philippines
22 Apr 20
Sorry I couldn't think of anything to help except help yourself as sung by Tom Jones.
2 people like this