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Benefit types

Find out which Social Security benefits can help you based on your circumstances.

If you already get benefits, visit our Manage benefits page to learn how to make changes, download documents, and complete other tasks.

Retirement

Monthly payments based on your lifetime earnings. To be eligible, you must:

  • Be age 62 or older, and
  • Have worked and paid Social Security taxes for 10 years or more.

Learn about Retirement benefits

Disability

Monthly payments for people who have:

  • A disability or blindness, and 
  • Enough work history.

Learn about Disability

Survivor

Monthly payments to certain family members of someone who worked and paid Social Security taxes before they died, including:

  • Spouses.
  • Ex-spouses.
  • Children.
  • Dependent parents.

Learn about Survivor benefits

Family

Monthly payments to certain family members of someone entitled to Retirement or Disability, including:

  • Spouses.
  • Ex-spouses.
  • Children.
  • Some grandchildren.

Learn about Family benefits

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Monthly payments to people who have:

  • Little or no income, and 
  • Little or no resources, and 
  • A disability, blindness, or are age 65 or older. 

Learn about SSI

Medicare

Health insurance for people who:

  • Are age 65 or older, or
  • Have end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or 
  • Get Disability benefits.

Plan for Medicare