Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens & Long Island NYC Social Security

Our name completely reveals what we do quite obviously. But in case you’re not getting it, allow us to give you another, more obvious hint. Just add this (?).

So, Hurt at Work?

That’s right. Our Hurt At Work NYC Team aims to help employees in private sectors get the most of the state benefits they’re entitled to by educating, reprimanding, and taking legal action against employers who fail to uphold the state’s labor laws and requirements – particularly, the provisions on Social Security and Workers’ Compensation benefits. We offer Bronx NYC social security, Brooklyn New York social security, Queens New York City social security and Long Island Social Security benefits.

Learn More About Our Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island NYC Social Security!

Although a Social Security Number or SSN are not required of each and every citizen by the law (e.g. children, non-working citizens), native and naturalized public and private employees need to have them. There are generally two sets of deductions withdrawn from your paycheck that are mandated by law:

The first set would include Federal Income Tax, State Tax, and Local Income Tax required and withheld in some areas (city or country).  These are general taxes mandated by law. Avoiding, falsifying, or not complying with any or all of these taxes may put the company in a dangerous stance that can result in heavy penalties like high fines, lawsuits, and even cessation of all company operations.

The second set of deductions is a mandatory requirement for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act or FICA and includes Medicare Tax and Social Security Taxes. The tax rates may vary from state to state, but still compulsory nonetheless.

So should you hate FICA for getting a good portion of your monthly salary? No, that should not be the case. If anything, FICA is doing you a favor – the kind which you may not see the benefit of at the moment but sooner or later, realize how lucky you are to have it. Social Security taxes are registered into your SSN. It notifies the state that you are employed and an active contributor. Social Security ensures that you get a good life after long, winding years of tough work. You generally get two kinds: Retirement and Disability Benefits. So whatever happens in the near future, you can be sure that you’re socially secure. This is what FICA is helping you achieve – a safe, worry-free future so that you can work to the best of your abilities today.

Who is entitled to SS Benefits? Practically anyone who’s ever worked in their lives! However, it is a common rule that the employer should be legal. So you have to be a bona fide American citizen, employed with a legally registered company. Below the counter jobs, as well as the employees working under it is in no way entitled to avail of Social Security Benefits because (1) non-registered business are typically tax evaders and (2) Social Security offered by each federal state can only be made available to official members of the same federal state. And of course, any establishment operating albeit the government’s knowledge is sure to get in trouble if one or two of their employees filed for a benefits’ labor case. So if you meet the preceding requirements, and planning to look for employment pretty soon, make sure you’ve got your own Social Security Number. You won’t just need it for the job, but most importantly, you’ll need it for yourself!

So the law mandates that every employee’s paycheck should have benefit deductions, how about employers? Well, the best thing about Social Security Act is that you’re not the only one paying for your future. FICA also requires your employers to do equally the same. A cent for a cent, a dollar for a dollar – FICA states that whatever you contribute for your SS Taxes, your employer must contribute the same amount. The current employee tax rate for social security is 6.2% – this means that you are being deducted (and should only be deducted, unless otherwise specified) 6.2% of your monthly salary to go to your SS Benefits. This also means that your employer must contribute an amount equivalent to 6.2% of your salary for your SS Benefits so that you get a total of 12.4% Social Security Tax Contributions every month.

If you ask us, this sounds like a very fair deal. And it’s a deal that should always be tightly observed. We, at Hurt At Work NYC, work in coordination with the Federal Insurance Contributions Act to make sure that you get everything that is entitled to you, fair and square. We know you work hard, we see you work hard, and we want to make you feel rewarded for it. Social Security Benefits may not be commensurate to the amount of time, effort, and expertise you’ve invested into the United States workforce, but it sure is something you’ll need later on.

How much is the maximum benefit you can receive from Social Security? In 2016, the most you can get from your Social Security is $2,639 per year (maximum benefit). But this is only applicable to workers who contributed the maximum Social Security Tax rates for all 35 years of employment. So depending on how much you work and how much you earn working, your SS benefits may be equal to or lesser than this amount. The time you retire is also crucial to determining how much benefits you’ll receive from Social Security. The acknowledged retirement age is 65 years old. If you retire earlier than 65, your benefits will be considerably less. If you retire at the age of 62, for example, the benefit you’ll receive is lesser by 30% compared to your counterparts who retired at the exact age of retirement. Some employees who deferred their retirement, on the other hand, will receive extra credits on top of what was supposed to be their retirement claim. A good 8% is added for every extended year worked over full retirement age.

Why do we protect your rights to Social Security Benefits, you ask? That’s simple. You’re the backbone of this society; you are the economy itself. Without you, states would be different, America as a whole would be different. Americans would not be living, would not be thriving if it weren’t for the hard work you put in each and every day. Your efforts will not be left unrecognized. At the very least, it will not be deprived of things that are rightfully owed to you by the State. And we won’t let anyone, not even your employer, get in the way with that.

What happens to employers who fail to commit to providing SS Benefits? Ultimately, failure to comply with the Social Security Tax Law is a major offense against FICA and may become a legal ground for full termination of the business’s operations. Yes, employers, it is that serious. I know some of you may be reading this so we would like to make this very clear: Sooner or later, one of your “deprived employees” will come out of the shadows and tell on you. When that time comes, it’ll be a little too late to try and save face. You will be penalized, and depending on how heavy your case is, the court may decide to either suspend your operations, have you pay a very high fine (principal amount + liquidated damages), or terminate your business for good. Really, you would save yourself a whole lot of trouble if you just fairly do your part in the first place.

Now, back to workers. Another thing we protect is your right to Worker’s Compensation Benefits. Many states, including ours, collect taxes that go to the Worker’s Compensation Fund. In the case of WC benefits, it doesn’t matter if you’re a contract, SS registered employee or not. You are entitled to Worker’s Compensation benefits so long as you are:

1. Legally Employed
2. Got Hurt At Work

Yes, this is precisely where we got our name. Every employee, public or private, have the right to avail Worker’s Compensation Benefits if they ever run into an accident, fall sick, or otherwise, become temporarily or permanently disabled while attending to their work duties and responsibilities.

It is a fear to many workers to lose their ability to perform their jobs – to lose their sense of worth and productiveness to society. They fear it not just for themselves but mostly for their families, especially when they are the sole provider of the family’s needs. Worries like “How can I earn money now?” or “What am I supposed to do now that I’m useless?” are all too understandable for us. We know how much security our jobs give us in our lives. And despite being tired, fatigued, and endangered by it, we’d still choose to keep it if the only other option left is to become unemployed.

Your job is important. Our jobs are important. This is why we, at Hurt At Work NYC, find it important to give you all security you need to keep you productive. Worker’s Compensation ensures that all work-related accidents, illnesses, and diseases are accounted for. And for all the time the worker remains unable to work, WC benefits should be consistently given to them as a means of support in the absence of their livelihood. This means that for people who are permanently disabled, these benefits will not cease to be given. Unless otherwise, the affected person has found some other method to sufficiently provide for himself and his family.

Now that you know all these, doesn’t it make you realize that your taxes are being put to good use? Let’s face it. Not all of us have the discipline to save for rainy days. Other than thinking of taxes as a huge pain on your paychecks think of them important savings you have for the future – especially your Social Security and Worker’s Compensation Taxes. Even if you don’t get into an accident, fall ill, or become disabled (and we strongly hope nothing of these ever happens to you), think of your contributions as a way of giving back to society, an aid to those who need it.

Social Security and Worker’s Compensation funds are like a big bank, you see. They go first to whoever needs them first. For example, in the case of Social Security, the taxes you contribute to the fund are given to those who’re already in their retirement age or those who’ve become unable to work. When your time comes to retire, it will be your turn to receive from the workers of younger generations. It’s like a cycle. In the same way that Worker’s Compensation funds go to whoever suffers from work-related injuries or disabilities. Although there is no guarantee that you’ll get your turn in the future (let’s hope not), still, just think of it as a way of helping your fellow members of the workforce. Surely, should this happen to you, an equal amount of help will also be extended to you.

We believe that this is the utmost importance of being socially secure. You have the workforce’s finances to back you up and in turn, you contribute to the workforce’s finances as well. It’s a give and take relationship, really.

What’s our part in all of this? And why choose Hurt At Work NYC? Our team of professionals help those who are conflicted, deprived, or refused of these benefits take back what is rightfully due to them. Some employers just don’t get the fact that Social Security and Worker’s Compensation Benefits are integral assistances every employee needs. Our role is to make sure they “DO” get it – even if it means doing the hard way or raising the issue to higher court. The welfare of employees is as big a concern as equality, unemployment, harassment, and compensation in the workplace. If anything, it should be the primary concern to be addressed by all employers. After all, what good is a company if its employees have no insurance of any sort?

This is where we make a stand. We hear each and every employee’s fervent call for action. And we’ll always help keep workplaces safe, fair, and equal for all people.

Hurt at work? Call Hurt At Work NYC to learn more about our Bronx, Brooklyn & Queens social security benefits – today!