Social Security Benefits for Pennsylvania

• Social Security is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Since 1935, the Social Security program has provided income to retirees, the disabled and dependents of deceased workers. Since the SSA is a federal entity, all benefits retirement, disability and survivors benefits are universal from state to state. However, Pennsylvania also offers supplemental income and medical benefits to elderly and disabled beneficiaries of Social Security.
  
  

Survivors Benefits

• Family members of deceased workers can receive survivors benefits if the worker had acquired enough work credits to receive benefits at the time of his death. Benefits include a one-time payment of $255 or monthly payments of 75 percent of the deceased worker's benefit as of 2010. Although each family member is entitled to a monthly 75 percent payment, the total household benefit cannot exceed 150 percent of the deceased worker's benefit amount. You must apply for the one-time payment within two years of the worker's death, but there is no application time limit for the monthly benefits.
  
  

Disability Benefits

• If you are elderly, disabled or blind, you can receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) . If you are also living in a low-income household you can receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Each benefit payment comes monthly and you can use it to pay basic expenses such as food, shelter and clothing.
  
  

Retirement Benefits

• Retirement benefits under the Social Security program provide monthly income to people who have at least 40 work credits when they retire. You can acquire up to four work credits every year. Although you can start getting partial benefits at age 62, you must reach your full retirement age to get full benefits. Your retirement age depends on the year you were born.
  
  

Pennsylvania Supplemental Programs

• Pennsylvania provides additional, state-funded SSI payments to elderly and disabled Social Security beneficiaries who do not live in assisted-living facilities. In addition, Pennsylvania provides automatic Medicaid eligibility to people receiving SSI as well as transportation to medical appointments. Pennsylvania will also give $200 toward medically necessary moving expenses and $750 in burial expenses to SSI beneficiaries as of 2010.