If you are living in the US and making ends meet can be a problem at times, then you need to know about the special program of the government which is established just to help those in need. Do you know what Social Security is? What is the meaning of Social Security and the concept? Well, if you are looking for answers for these questions and many more then you have landed on the right page. Everything you need to know about it is below.Started in 1935, Social Security is a federal program that provides economic help to the section of the public which needs it. People who can benefit from the Social Security program of the government are retired people, poor, disabled and others. During the great depression of the 1930s, the US Government signed the Social Security Act in an effort to pra safety net for people going through financial crises. Though the great depression has ended a long time ago, the authorities have decided to keep the program running so as to prthe required financial support to people needing it.How Does It Work?In the US, employees as well as employers are required to pay Social Security taxes, and the funds raised through levying these taxes on the general public are provided as benefits to those in need. This way, workers of today pay the money that they will receive as benefits when they retire and so on. The Social Security benefits you receive are based on the amount of Social Security taxes you paid that are somewhat based on your income.What Are Social Security Benefits?The benefits offered by the Social Security Administration can be received in a number of ways, such as retirement benefits that you start receiving after you have reached the age of 62. In 2024. approximately 39 million people in the US received average monthly benefits of USD 1229 as retirement benefits. The US Social Security Administration also offers Disability benefits for people who have been disabled for at least five full months and their condition has rendered them unable to work. Furthermore, there is also a program for survivors which provides benefits for the widows and children of Social Security beneficiaries.Apart from these, there are also supplemental benefits that are available for people 65 years of age or older who have very limited financial resources and are disabled. Then there is also medicare which covered about 49 million people in 2024. making more than 550 billion US dollars in benefit payments.Well, now that you know what exactly Social Security is, what it entails and how it works, it is time for you to tell us what you think. Do you believe that the Social Security scheme of the US government is adequate or does it need further changes to be made for effective? Tell us through your comments below. We would love to hear from you.If you do not know your SSN (Social Security Number) and have lost your original card, you will need to visit your local Social Security Administration office - in person. To discuss your Social Security number or to obtain a replacement card, you will need certain documents as proof of U.S. citizenship. These include a U.S. birth certificate or a U.S. passport.An acceptable document must be current (not expired) and show your name, identifying information (date of birth or age) and preferably a recent photograph. For example, as proof of identity, Social Security must see your:U.S. driver's license,State-issued non-driver identification card, orU.S. passport.If you do not have one of these specific documents or you cannot get a replacement for one of them within 10 days, SSA will ask to see other documents, including:Employee identification card,School identification card,Health insurance card (not a Medicare card), orU.S. military identification card.If you come across a site that is displaying anyoneu2019s Social Security number or Medical Records, you need to report them for internet crime because they hacked private information or bought data that was hacked and sold to sites like which exist primarily to perpetrate or promote fraud and identity theft. If you are hunting for Social Security numbers instead of just using your own, you can also be held responsible for attempted fraud or identity theft if you try to use it. There really is no honor among thieves, so donu2019t set yourself up for that to come haunt you. The political issues that are all over the news for the last 12 months and even beyond is all about illegal hacking and look at the widespread ill effects that is having.There are reputable sites for looking up someoneu2019s background for your own protection or for employment purposes that do not advertise they can give you Social Security numbers, they do not have them. You cannot get your own Social Security number online, even on the SSA website signed into your account, as it is private and blocked save for the last four. It is protected information and not even listed on the web. Of course with Equifaxu2019s last irresponsible hoopla, over 143 million people are up a creek without a paddle and totally screwed for life because you canu2019t just up and change your identity whenever you want like you change your passwords or screen names.When you go in person to your local office they may be able to assist you to find your number that day, if you have at least two forms of accepted ID, meaning original or certified by issuer documentation, your fatheru2019s social security number, or other forms of ID. Notarized documents are NOT accepted in any case. You must be able prove your identity beyond any doubt to get that number. If you try to apply for a second Social Security number they will also assume fraud and youu2019ll have a headache. If you are attempting to get your Social Security card replaced by mail you will have to fill out the correct forms from SSA and send your original or certified by issuer. They will not take copies or notarized forms. Your identification documents will be returned to you once they have reviewed them.You also will have an extremely hard time changing your Social Security number once issued. The number you are issued belongs to you for eternity, even after you die, that number stays attached to youu2014they do not re-use a number. It will just about take a legal order and proof for the reason you want to change it. All of your work history is attached to your number and changing it is not allowed only for reasons like witness protection or in certain cases of domestic violence. There are only one or two reasons they will issue a new number and losing your card is not one of them. Head into your local SSA office with acceptable forms of identification and apply for a replacement cardu2014pretty simple and above board.Any old joe without a legitimate business and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot just go to Social Security and get your number without being registered as a legitimate business entity. You cannot type a persons name into a search box and access someoneu2019s records that are not your own. You will have to show proof of your business along with submitting all requested documentation. You will need your own Social Security number just to complete this registration too as well as a stack of paperwork.Sites that advertise that they have everyoneu2019s social security number are scams and will gladly take your money and not give you an SSN. Read their terms of use, they are not responsible for any information you get from their site. They need to be reported for internet fraud. Things like just type in a name and a state and youu2019ll have access to medical records, work history and earnings statements are simply not speaking the truth. If you hear that or someone tells you that, Iu2019d run fast away from the fraud ans prison.If you come across a site that is displaying anyoneu2019s Social Security number or Medical Records, you need to report them for internet crime because they hacked private information or bought data that was hacked and sold to sites like which exist primarily to perpetrate or promote fraud and identity theft. If you are hunting for Social Security numbers instead of just using your own, you can also be held responsible for attempted fraud or identity theft if you try to use it. There really is no honor among thieves, so donu2019t set yourself up for that to come haunt you. The political issues that are all over the news for the last 12 months and even beyond is all about illegal hacking and look at the widespread ill effects that is having.There are reputable sites for looking up someoneu2019s background for your own protection or for employment purposes that do not advertise they can give you Social Security numbers, they do not have them. You cannot get your own Social Security number online, even on the SSA website signed into your account, as it is private and blocked save for the last four. It is protected information and not even listed on the web. Of course with Equifaxu2019s last irresponsible hoopla, over 143 million people are up a creek without a paddle and totally screwed for life because you canu2019t just up and change your identity whenever you want like you change your passwords or screen names.When you go in person to your local office they may be able to assist you to find your number that day, if you have at least two forms of accepted ID, meaning originalorcertified by issuer documentation, your fatheru2019s social security number, or other forms of ID. Notarized documents are NOT accepted in any case. You must be able prove your identity beyond any doubt to get that number. If you try to apply for a second Social Security number they will also assume fraud and youu2019ll have a headache. If you are attempting to get your Social Security card replaced by mail you will have to fill out the correct forms from SSA and send your original or certified by issuer. They will not take copies or notarized forms. Your identification documents will be returned to you once they have reviewed them.You also will have an extremely hard time changing your Social Security number once issued. The number you are issued belongs to you for eternity, even after you die, that number stays attached to youu2014they do not re-use a number. It will just about take a legal order and proof for the reason you want to change it. All of your work history is attached to your number and changing it is not allowed only for reasons like witness protection or in certain cases of domestic violence. There are only one or two reasons they will issue a new number and losing your card is not one of them. Head into your local SSA office with acceptable forms of identification and apply for a replacement cardu2014pretty simple and above board.Any old joe without a legitimate business and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cannot just go to Social Security and get your number without being registered as a legitimate business entity. You cannot type a persons name into a search box and access someoneu2019s records that are not your own. You will have to show proof of your business along with submitting all requested documentation. You will need your own Social Security number just to complete this registration too as well as a stack of paperwork.Sites that advertise that they have everyoneu2019s social security number are scams and will gladly take your money and not give you an SSN. Read their terms of use, they are not responsible for any information you get from their site. They need to be reported for internet fraud. Things like just type in a name and a state and youu2019ll have access to medical records, work history and earnings statements are simply not speaking the truth. If you hear that or someone tells you that, Iu2019d run fast away from the fraud ans prison.The only place to get your Social Security Number free is to go in person to your local Social Security office with proper identification and fill out their form to obtain one. Your number is there just needs to be given to you. Proper identification would include drivers license, marriage certificate, military ID, health insurance card, passport.The marriage license may be necessary for women in case of name change.Other areas on the Internet may brag about Social Security Number information but that's all they are doing is bragging. Even if you already have someone's social you can't get information unless you are a police officer or private investigator with credentials.