AMAC Magazine Exclusive – By Russell Gloor
Dear Rusty,
I will be 66½ in June and would like to discuss when would be the best time for me to start taking my Social Security benefits. I am still employed full-time and don’t want to be penalized because of that. Please let me know what I need to do to make an appointment with you. I got your information from the AMAC website, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Signed, Ready to Claim
Dear Ready,
You can certainly call us at 1-888-750-2622 during normal EST business hours for a personal conversation. But to facilitate the discussion, be aware that deciding when to claim your Social Security benefits normally depends on just a few factors, including your financial need, your health and expected longevity, and your marital status. Here are a few things to be aware of:
- For someone born in 1958, “full retirement age” (FRA) is 66 years and 8 months. If you were born in October 1958, you will reach your FRA in June 2025, which is when you can receive 100 percent of the SS benefits you’ve earned from a lifetime of working.
- Once you reach your FRA in June, Social Security’s “annual earnings test” no longer applies. Thus, you can continue working after you start receiving your SS benefits, and your work earnings will not affect your monthly benefit amount. If you claim your benefits before reaching your FRA, they will be smaller and subject to Social Security’s annual earnings test (which, for you this year, is $62,160 or $5,180/month after you start collecting your SS benefits). If you decide to claim the benefits prior to reaching your FRA, they will be reduced by .556 percent for each month before then (a permanent reduction).
- You can also wait until after your FRA to claim and earn delayed retirement credits at a rate of .67 percent per month (8 percent per year of delay), which will allow you to receive even greater benefits later. If financially feasible, you can delay collecting your monthly benefits until the age of 70, when they will reach their maximum—which will be about 27 percent higher than in June of this year.
- If you are single and will not be eligible for a spousal benefit, then you should make your claim decision based only on your own needs. However, if you are married and if your spouse’s FRA amount is more than twice yours, you may be entitled to a “spousal boost” (a supplemental amount added to your own SS retirement benefit).
You should consider your life expectancy in deciding when to claim your SS retirement benefits. If you expect to enjoy at least “average” longevity (about 87 for a woman who is currently your age), then you might also consider delaying your claim (if financially feasible), which is often a prudent choice. If you don’t expect to live a long life, if you need the money sooner, or if you are entitled to spousal benefits, then claiming Social Security at your FRA in June is likely your best option.
Signed, Russell Gloor
This article presents the opinions of the AMAC Foundation Staff and is intended for information purposes only. It does not represent legal or financial guidance.
The answer to this too often asked questions depends on so many factors and most of these factors are never asked.
Examples include health, but not just of you, but of your spouse. Example – we waited on taking mine till I was 70 – why? While contributed more to SS, my life expectancy is less so this will give my Wife more money if/WHEN I pass before her.
Similarly, when given the opportunity to SSDI at 50, I didn’t take it. For the reason above and because I knew I’d go nuts if I wanted to keep working.
What are your and your spouse’s financial needs? If you take soc. sec. at 62 or SSDI at a younger age, what happens to your retirement funds – will they be zero to soon?
Are you planning to downsize your home and so free up cash for investments?
Do you believe your SS payout will be have decreased payments / month by the time you take it?
Is your health such that you should live to beyond the breakeven point for taking it at 70 versus say 62? Can you afford to do so?
Everyone needs to consider all factors, not just their’s but also their spouse’s.
Should I pass before my Wife, she will get nearly 70% more in SS as she will switch to my account.
Good luck to all.
My former spouse recently died am eligible to collect some type of benefit?