To know when you should file for Social Security, you need to understand your Full Retirement Age.
Taking Social Security early means a reduced benefit. Waiting to take Social Security means growth on your payments. Let’s talk about what could make sense for you.
To learn more about Medicare, Social Security, and Estate Planning, visit:
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:38 Full Retirement Age Dates
1:27 Taking BEFORE Your FRA
1:56 Taking AFTER Your FRA
2:15 Real Example
2:37 When Should You Take SS?
4:17 Warning
4:44 Wrapping Up…(read more)
LEARN MORE ABOUT: IRA Accounts
CONVERTING IRA TO GOLD: Gold IRA Account
CONVERTING IRA TO SILVER: Silver IRA Account
REVEALED: Best Gold Backed IRA
What You Need to Know About Social Security’s Full Retirement Age
When to File For Social Security
Social Security is a vital financial safety net for retirees in the United States. Understanding the intricacies of Social Security can help individuals make informed decisions about when to file for benefits. One crucial factor to consider is the full retirement age (FRA). This article will explain what the full retirement age is and why it is an important consideration when deciding to file for Social Security benefits.
The full retirement age is the age at which individuals can receive their full Social Security benefits without experiencing any reductions. It is determined by the year of your birth and can range between 66 and 67 years old. When Social Security was first established, the full retirement age was 65 for everyone. However, as people began living longer, adjustments were made to ensure the system’s sustainability.
If you choose to file for Social Security before reaching the full retirement age, your benefits will be permanently reduced. For each year you file before reaching full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced by about 6-7%. For example, if your full retirement age is 66 and you file at 62, your benefits will be reduced by around 25-30%. On the other hand, if you delay filing for Social Security past your full retirement age, your benefits will increase by around 8% every year up until the age of 70. So, if you delay filing until 70 and your full retirement age is 66, your benefits will increase by approximately 32%.
Understanding these reductions and increases is crucial when planning for retirement. If you are in good health and have the financial means to wait, delaying filing for Social Security can lead to higher monthly benefits in the long run. On the other hand, if you have health issues or need the income earlier, filing before reaching full retirement age may be more appropriate.
Another important consideration is the impact on your spouse’s benefits. If you file for Social Security before reaching full retirement age, it may also affect the spousal benefits your spouse is entitled to. Filing early can reduce the spousal benefit to as little as 32.5% of the working spouse’s full benefit, compared to 50% if filed at full retirement age. However, if your spouse has reached full retirement age, they can choose to file a restricted application to receive only spousal benefits while their own benefits continue to grow.
It’s important to note that filing for Social Security does not necessarily mean completely retiring from work. Even if you are still working, you can still file for Social Security benefits. However, if you start receiving benefits before reaching the full retirement age and continue working, you may experience an earnings limit. This limit is adjusted annually and could result in a reduction in your Social Security benefits if you earn beyond the specified threshold.
When it comes to filing for Social Security, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Understanding your full retirement age and weighing the pros and cons of filing early or delaying benefits is crucial. To make an informed decision, it is advisable to consult with a financial advisor or use online calculators that can help estimate your potential benefits based on various scenarios.
Ultimately, deciding when to file for Social Security is a personal choice that should take into consideration your health, financial situation, and long-term retirement plans. Understanding the full retirement age and its impact on benefits can help ensure that you make the most suitable decision for your individual circumstances.
I just have one question:I plan to retire early in Jan or Feb 2024..,if I work an additional month and make more than my allowed amount..1770 for the month..is that overage paid at the end of the year at tax time ?
So if I turn 66 in 2024 but in September and my fra is 66 and 10 months does my earning cap go up in 2024 when I turn 66 or in 2025 when I reach fra (66 and 10 months, roughly around June 2025) that of course will dictate whether or not I plan to take it or wait.
If an actuary tried to market this unconscionable scam in the private sector, he'd be thrown in federal prison. If this program is so great, why does the government need to use the police power of the state to force us to contribute to it if we want to opt out for a private sector option?
Unless I’m not aware of something, I don’t see anything magical about FRA. From the age of 62 on, the payment goes up 8% per year, every year until the age of 70. 70 should be called FRA, because it’s when you truly max out on the monthly payment. 67 is just one stop between 62 and 70. Is there something I’m missing here??
For the purposes of the increasing benefits the FRA is not really any different than any other years. It's just a year along the way if you plan to wait until after it. It's not like benefits take a big jump in your FRA year. It's nearly a flat increase from age 62 to 70. So it's really only if you continue to have earned income over the cap that it matters prior to your FRA.
Great information
The site is growing as I knew it would. That alone makes my day. So turning 65 later this year, still working, not collecting yet on social security or my IRA Accounts. In the process of moving my 3 IRA Accounts with 3 different firms to just one company. Wife has a friend she went to school with who has been with Edward Jones for a long time, and she has her stuff with her. An issue with me is all my life I worked to build up my 401k or IRA Accounts and in the future which is really not that far away in the chapters of life I find it hard to accept that eventually I will have to watch the money come down and not continue to grow. It's something I never really thought about, but it is a part of the whole concept in saving for retirement. Just me I guess. Also in this video I liked how you showed the percentages at different ages. It helps in deciding for some people depending on their situation. So if it is 10% of $2,000 which is $200 a month. Is it worth it for them to wait, especially if they do not like their job, or the $200 will not break the bank. It's a great point in showing that as some may realize they would rather have their extra retirement time instead of $200 a month. Others might think the opposite. But it helps people to decide. Great Job!
Great Video! You covered a lot of things I’ve been researching lately.
My husband was born in 1961 so his FRA is 67 but he’s having back issues. His Neurologist told him to relieve his back pain he needs surgery but it will be a career ender. He has a very back breaking job working in the Oil Fields all across America so a lot of his back pain happens when he is just driving from one job to another.
If he retires before 65 he won’t be able to apply for Medicare until he’s 65. If he can qualify for Disability he’s looking at not being able to apply for Medicare until after he’s been certified disabled for two years. Before Obama/Biden we used to pay $300 a Month for our Medical Insurance but now we pay $300 a week out of my husband’s weekly checks. Plus he has a $2,700 Deductible and a $4,000 out of pocket every year per person. The cost of Medical insurance, deductibles and out of pockets climbed substantially for the 8 years Obama/Biden was in office and they all started climbing again with Biden/Harris. This was one reason of 100s why we walked away from being Democrats raised by Democrats and became registered Republicans.
We went online to his Social Security Account and found out that an estimated difference between him retiring at 65 verses 67 is about $330 less a month. He could make that up working odd jobs here and there. Plus at 65 he can qualify for Medicare which will reduce his medical costs. So since he can’t qualify for Medicare until 65 or two years after being certified disabled, if he has his back surgery that would mean, if his company will let him, he would have to go COBRA and therefore he would end up paying for the about $300 a week plus what his company pays which is half. So that would mean about $600 a week plus his high annual and per person deductible and out of pocket. There is no way we could pay for that even if the company allows him to go COBRA until he’s 65 and even if he qualified for disability.
I qualified for disability after 19 surgeries and now I’ve had 21 surgeries with more pending. My Medicare, supplemental and deductible cost me about $550 a month on top of what my husband pays through his job. So we know that when he is able to qualify for Medicare we will still be paying a lot for Medical but less then he is paying through his job.
Qualifying for disability is hard. I went through the red tape to qualify for disability and one of my sisters was got diagnosed with Cancer at 42 and it took her years and a lawyer to qualify for disability and she died at 47. We know that he could go years before he could even qualify for disability then if he’s not 65 he will have to wait two years to qualify for Medicare. A lot of my family died of Cancer or other causes before they reached FRA so we definitely already know he’s not going to wait any longer then 65 when he can also qualify for Medicare.
So right now we are doing everything we can to get him through until he can retire at 65. We are buying heating and massage Vests and heating and massage Car seat covers and he’s going to talk to his doctor about shots in his back and prescription pain pills. But his pain pills will also have to be safe enough for him to be able to drive and do his back breaking and dangerous job.
Yes sir, all your videos are very helpful especially to us the old/senior people. Thank you so much for doing this. As always never miss watching your videos. Very informative.❤
Not if you are a federal employee…that would be 57.
90 Days From Retirement has the best content in the YouTube Financeverse! Well done!
Your videos are immensely helpful. Thanks so much for the work you put into them.
My investments are all doing well. I took at 62 based on my family’s normal life span. I took my father and mothers family history into account. Then I did the break even analysis. This is working for me. Maybe not everyone.