"In this sticky web that we're all in, behaving decently is no small task." -- Novelist Stacey D'Erasmo

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Social Security FAQs

     The last substantive change to Social Security occurred in 2015. That's when Congress eliminated the file-and-suspend and restricted-application strategies that gave married couples the opportunity to increase their lifetime benefits.

     But still, people often have questions about how the sometimes-complicated retirement system works, and how long it will be able to pay full benefits without some changes to the system. So here are a few Frequently Asked Questions, brought to us by Jeremy Kisner, Director of Financial Planning at Surevest Wealth Management in Phoenix, AZ. For those who are interested, he also writes a financially user-friendly blog called Clear and Concise Financial Advice.

     1. Can I collect benefits even if I continue working?
     Once you reach full retirement age, you can earn as much as you want without affecting your Social Security benefits  However, between age 62 and the year of your full retirement age you can only earn up to a certain threshold ($18,240 as of 2020) before benefits are reduced. For every $2 you earn above the threshold, your benefits are reduced by $1. But remember, only earned income from working counts towards the threshold. And also, if your benefit is withheld, Social Security will make it up to you with a higher monthly benefit after you reach full retirement age.

     2. How much are payments reduced when claiming retirement benefits early?
     They are reduced by approximately 0.555% for each of the 36 months you collect prior to full retirement age, and 0.416% for each month more than 36 months before full retirement age. So if your monthly benefit would be $1000 at full retirement age of 66, you would collect only $750 a month if you claimed benefits at age 62, for a 25% reduction.

     3. Are spousal benefits also reduced by the same amount for claiming early?
     Spousal benefits are actually reduced more. For example, claiming Social Security at age 62 would reduce the worker's benefit by 25%, but a spousal benefit by 30% -- or an average of 0.625% for each month prior to full retirement age.

     4. How much are benefits increased if I delay benefits until age 70?
     You accrue Delayed Retirement Credits which increase your benefits at a rate of 0.667 for every month you wait beyond your full retirement age. That works out to 8% per year simple interest.


     5. If I get married, am I immediately entitled to spousal benefits?
     No. You have to be married for one year before your are entitled to spousal benefits.

     6. What if my spouse dies prior to collecting benefits?
     You have to have been married for nine months to collect survivor benefits, and you have to wait until you are at least 60 years old (unless accidental death). There are also family benefits available to an unmarried child if one of their parents dies while the child in under 18., and spouses are also eligible to collect family benefits prior to age 60 if they are taking care of a child under 16.

     7. What happens to spousal benefits in the case of divorce?
     You can claim benefits on your prior spouse's record if you were married for at least 10 years, and are not currently remarried. It is not uncommon for two or more people to be claiming spousal benefits on one person's work record.

     8. Can I pay back benefits I collected prior to age 70, then get a higher payment as if I'd never collected?
     No. You used to be able to do this, but the option was eliminated in 2010.

     9. Are the ages of eligibility for benefits the same for widows and divorcees?
     Widows or surviving divorced spouses can claim survivor benefits at age 60. Divorcees can qualify for benefits at 62, even if the ex-spouse (age 62 or older) has not yet filed for benefits. You have to have been divorced for at least two years to file for benefits on an ex-spouses's record.

     10. What is now considered full retirement age?
     It depends on when  you were born:
     Year of birth       Full retirement age
     1942 or before          65
     1943 - 1954              66
     1955                         66 and 2 months
     1956                         66 and 4 months
     1957                         66 and 6 months
     1958                         66 and 8 months
     1959                         66 and 10 months
     1960 and after          67

     Bonus Question. Should I factor in the possibility that Social Security will go bankrupt in deciding when to start my benefits?
     Despite some reports to the contrary, Social Security is not in danger of going bankrupt. However, if no changes are made to the system, the trust fund (which has been built up over the years by collecting extra payroll taxes) will be depleted sometime around 2034. That's when benefits will have to be reduced -- by about 25% from their current level. There are ways to fix the system. But that's a topic for another post. Just one thing to keep in mind in this political season: If anyone is proposing a payroll tax holiday, that might put more money in workers' pockets, but it would also further deplete the Social Security system.

     Meanwhile, if you're interested in improving your own financial system, I can recommend Kisner's book A Good Financial Adviser Will Tell You ... from which these questions were drawn. And if you really want to get into the weeds, check out IRS Publication 915 for even more detailed information about Social Security benefits.

22 comments:

Arkansas Patti said...

Thanks for the info. Since I have been collecting for 8 years it is too late for me but I am happy that I started at 62. Thanks for explaining the payroll tax holiday to me. I wasn't aware how that would affect me. Pretty sure that is not a good idea.

Janis @ RetirementallyChallenged said...

Good info. We'll probably wait as long as we can to take social security (past our full retirement age). A question I have is how, if at all, earnings from investments impact benefits. For instance - after full retirement age - if a single or a couple makes over $X in investment income, will their benefits be reduced or taxed? My understanding is that they will but it would be great to have that explained in a clear and concise manner.

Tom said...

Janie -- Benefits will not be reduced but would be taxed if income is over certain amounts. For example, benefits of a married couple would be taxed up to 50% if income is $32,000 to $44,000, and up to 85% if income is above $44,000. (Yeah, I know, those limits are pretty low aren't they. They were set back in the 1980s and never indexed for inflation.) Check out IRS website for details. Also, fyi, some states tax SS benefits.

Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com said...

Hi Tom! Always good to keep sharing information that effects so many of us at this age. We are both planning to take (Thom actually started already) our SS at full retirement age for a couple of reasons. We actually have a fairly secure method of making above 8% interest on our investments and by taking it at 65/66 and investing it, we should be able to make more than waiting until 70. Of course it is a risk, but it is also a risk to wait until 70 to start taking any money. Still, I think everyone's case should be considered carefully however it is done to make sure it is the right "fit." ~Kathy

Rebecca Olkowski said...

I collected survivor benefits at age 60 and switched to my own at 66. It's been a lifesaver for me. I can't understand why anyone would want to cut benefits for seniors. It would be cruel.

Anonymous said...

The younger generation blames the baby boomers for destroying the economy, for supporting the racist police state which murders black people, and for pretty much destroying America. The level of hatred that the youth feels towards boomers is undescribable. My question is, do you boomers think you're going to have a peaceful retirement? How do you think the younger generation will treat you? Already we see it happening, a couple weeks ago there was that video of a black guy punching a 75 year old white baby boomer man in the face in a retirement home. This is what happens when you live a greedy selfish life without thinking of the future. One day, the CONSEQUENCES of your actions come back to hit you a 100 fold. You boomers destroyed America and the youth is angry enough to riot and burn down the cities. The GREED of the baby boomers caused this. Anyway good luck, you baby boomers are gonna need it.

Tucker Conrad said...

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Success James said...


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(6) IMPOTENCE,
(7) BARENESS/INFERTILITY
(8) DIARRHEA
(9) ASTHMA..

Unknown said...

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I can’t believe my genital herpes is really cured, oh is by this time last year I start feeling bad about my life, I feel pain everyday of my life am very happy now that am really cured I couldn’t have do this on my own I wish is not God that help me with my helper I was searching the internet about this sickness last 3month when I found about great doctor wealthy, the man that keep his words I write the man email about my problem immediately I get a reply from him asking me to fill a form which I immediately did and send back to him after some mins he reply me that he have work on my cure that I need to provide some materials, which can enable him to work on my cure which I did on the next day of it, after some hours he inform me that he have getting the things needed for the cure and he is about to go on with the curing spell he called me again after 50mins that he is done with the cure that I should check my body and also go for test I cant believe I was negative a big thanks to him am very happy now with my family you can also get your self cured too from this sickness by contacting him through his email: wealthylovespell@gmail.com or whatapp +2348105150446 follow his instagram @wealthylovespell1 He also have a herbal cure for 7 other DISEASES;
1.HIV
2.SHINGLES
3.VIRAL HEPATITIS
4.INFLUENZA
5.IMPOTENCE,
6.BARENESS/INFERTILITY,
7.ANTHRAX
8 HPV
Contact him today and you will have a testimony…Good luck!

VERA WHITE said...

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He also have the herb to cure:(1) CANCERS,(2) DIABETES,(3) HIV/AIDS(4) HERPES(5)pregnancy

VERA WHITE said...

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He also have the herb to cure:(1) CANCERS,(2) DIABETES,(3) HIV/AIDS(4) HERPES(5)pregnancy

Doris Ebeneezer said...

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[this great herbal doctor CAN ALSO CURE SICKNESS LIKE
HIV / AIDS
DIABETES
EPILEPSY
HSV
HPV
Herpes
HEPATITIS
LOVE SPELL
SICKLE AND ANAEMIA .. ETC

Frank Thomas said...

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Diane Lawson said...

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Brunetta Keller said...

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THESE ARE THE THINGS priest mandible DOES
1. HERPES VIRUS
2. LASSA FEVER
3. GONORRHEA

Marie Lisa said...

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Mrs caroline said...



Hey am Mrs Caroline. from USA,Dr LUCKY is real and he's powerful herbal

treatment..After been in pain and sorrow for over 6 years it was Dr LUCKY

that cured me from Herpes Simplex Virus, I got infected with Herpes Simplex

Disease in 2020 and I have visited several herbalists, spiritualists and

pastors to cure me but they all was in avail, my world was gradually coming

to an end until i saw a post in a health forum about a herbal medicine from

Africa who have the herbal medicine to cure all kinds of deadly diseases

including Walter,HIV AIDS, ALS, HPV, MND, Epilepsy, Leukemia, Asthma,

Cancer, Ghonorhea,Hepatitis B etc, at first i doubted if it was real but

decided to give it a try, when i contact this herbalist via his

email,herbalcure09@gmail.com he prepared a herbal medicine portion and sent

it to me via DHL Delivery when i received this herbal medicine portion, he

gave me step by step instructions on how to apply it, when i applied it as

instructed, i was cured of this deadly disease within 1 weeks, I am now

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Daniela cora said...

I have be living with Oral herpes for over 4 years now and it has be a big problem for me.I have been looking for solution because i can't leave with it, One day i came across a woman testimony on a forum saying she got cured of her Herpes with the help of Dr OBUDU an herbal doctor from African with herbal medicine. At first i did not believe because i was not sure herbs can really take this virus away,but i have no choice than to give it a try and contacted him with his emails, i explain my problems,.. then he told me not to worry that he will prepare the a cure with herbal mixture and send it to me, i got the medicine after 4 days delivery and i use as instructed. After 21 days when the herb got almost finished, I went to a medical doctor, i did a test and discover that the virus was gone, and my test result were HSV 1%2 negative,i was so surprise and happy! then i wrote Dr OBUDU and thank him for getting me cured from herpes. I advice you to contact this great herbal doctor OBUDU as he have cure for different kinds of diseases.i decided to share this testimony to let others who also suffer from herpes know about this and give hope to others, you can reach him via Email drobuduherbalhome@gmail.com also https://drobuduherbalhome.wixsite.com/welcometoobuduherbal WhatsAPP number +2349023428871

Christopher said...

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{1}HIV And AIDS
{2}Diabetes
{3}Epilepsy
{4}Blood Cancer
{5}HPV
{7}ALS
{8}Hepatitis

Faith Idris said...

Hello everyone, I want to say a special thanks to Dr. Okuofoh for helping me get cured of herpes virus type 1, I contacted his base on the testimonies I saw about him on the internet. I was diagnosed with HERPES Virus and I tried all I can to get cured but all to no avail, until I saw a post in a health forum about a herbal man who prepare herbal medicine to cure all kinds of diseases including HERPES virus and Diabetes, at first I doubted if it was real but decided to give it a try, and true that I was cured by the herbal medicine he sent to me, and my Doctor has delivered my results to me and it shows that I don't have herpes again and that is why I am happy today and also share the good news to everybody to hear about the healing, contact Dr. Okuofoh if you need a herbal cure to cure herpes and Diabetes, his email at: drokuofohherbalhomehealing@gmail.com or text him on Whatsapp /call: +2349050141449. Thank you, sir.

JNECIA MCCLENTON said...

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