For more information about how work affects your benefits, ask for How Work Affects Your Benefits (Publication No. 05-10069).

People with disabilities, including children, who have little income and few resources, also may be eligible for disability payments through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. For more information about SSI, ask for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (Publication No. 05-11000).

If you become disabled, you should file for disability benefits as soon as possible, because it usually takes several months to process a disability claim. We may be able to process your claim more quickly if you have the following when you apply:

• Medical records and treatment dates
   from your doctors, therapists, hospitals,
   clinics and caseworkers;

• Your laboratory and other test results;

• The names, addresses, phone and fax
   numbers of your doctors, clinics and
   hospitals;

• The names of all medications you are
   taking; and

• The names of your employers and job
   duties for the last 15 years.

Your benefits may be taxable

Some people who get Social Security will have to pay taxes on their benefits. Less than one-third of our current beneficiaries pay taxes on their benefits.

You will have to pay taxes on your benefits if you file a federal tax return as an "individual" and your total income is more than $25,000. If you file a joint return, you will have to pay taxes if you and your spouse have a total income that is more than $32,000. For more information call the Internal Revenue Service’s toll-free number, 1-800-829-3676.