Social Security is an integral part of every New Jerseyan’s retirement plan.　 As our country’s premier family-protection program, it’s imperative that our communities understand the choices available to them with regard to Social Security and Medicare.

From the state perspective, Social Security contributes nearly $21 billion each year to New Jersey’s economy through the monthly cash benefits we pay to the 1.5 million retirees, workers with disabilities and their family members, including the families of workers who have died.　 Through Supplemental Security Income, we pay an additional $1 billion in monthly cash benefits each year to 163,000 people in need who are age 65 and older or disabled, regardless of age.　 If you’d like to see how Social Security impacts your local community, county level data is available online at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/oasdi_sc/2009/nj.html and ZIP code level at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/oasdi_zip/2009/nj.html.

I hope you will link to www.socialsecurity.gov from your local website since the internet affords everyone immediate access to vital information about our programs and benefits.　 In fact, for workers preparing for retirement, we strongly encourage them to use our Online Retirement Estimator – in English www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator and in Spanish www.segurosocial.gov/calculador to better understand how much they might receive at age 62 (approximately 70% of their regular monthly benefit), full-retirement age (currently 66, 100% of their regular monthly benefit) or beyond (an additional 8% for each year after full-retirement age, maximum 132% at age 70). 　This will empower them to make a better decision for themselves and their families about when to begin collecting retirement benefits. 　And, when they’re ready, workers and their spouses should apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov.