Considerations

• According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), "Social Security lifts half of Wyoming retirees from poverty." For many Wyoming residents, social security is their only source of income. Without social security supplementing their retirement income, more than half of the state's 65 and older community would be living below the poverty level.
  
  

Applying for Benefits

• Workers eligible for social security can apply for benefits via the Social Security Administration's website, by phone or in person at a local Wyoming social security office. New applicants must supply information such as social security number, birth records and tax returns from the previous year.
  
  

Retirement Age

• Full retirement age depends on the year a beneficiary was born. Workers born prior to 1942 are currently eligible to receive benefits. For workers born between 1943 and 1960, the age when full retirement benefits are payable continues to increase until age 67. According to information provided by the Old-Age Survivors and Disability Insurance program, there are 62,161 people receiving benefits that are aged 65 or older in the state of Wyoming as of December 2008.
  
  

Early or Delayed Retirement

• Individuals that retire prior to full retirement age may be eligible for reduced benefits depending on age. Benefits may begin as early as age 62. Some workers may choose to work beyond full retirement age. Once full retirement age has been reached, social security earnings will increase by a certain percentage each year until benefits are received or until the beneficiary reaches age 70. Also, each additional year worked adds earnings to a worker's social security credits.
  
  

Family Member Benefits

• In some cases, social security benefits may be granted to family members of retired or disabled persons. Some family members may include spouses that are age 62 or older, former spouses age 62 or older, dependent children or disabled children. In Wyoming, 17,517 beneficiaries were either spouses, children, widow(er)s or disabled dependents receiving benefit payments. Family members are subject to a maximum benefit percentage of the retired person's overall benefit amount.