Retirement Benefits

Larry, I'm writing on behalf of my sister. She is having difficulty deciding to apply for social security benefits.
Sister is 71 and continues to work full time. Cheers for good health. Her husband, former Federal employee, is retired through permanent disability related to employment - OWCP. Sister lives in South Carolina, which I believe does not tax social security benefits. She is aware the benefit amount will no longer increase with age and that she will not receive benefits for the time period where she did not apply.

I'm 70 years old and receiving social security but find I need additional money. I plan to work part time and my earnings will be a lot lower then my last few years of work. I only have 32 years of works so I guess any add'l years will be counted as part of the 35 years to average. Will my benefits be reduced.

Hi,

I will turn 70 on December 25, 2017. I work at Northwestern University and intend to continue working until our new University Center opens - hopefully by 2020. I am in decent health, and love the work that I do. I have asked this question of Social Security and I never get a straight answer. Whatever the dollar amount that I would receive if I retired at 70, if I keep working beyond 70, will that dollar amount remain the same? Or do the taxes that I would pay Social Security make the dollar amount go down?

How do I know, or find out if I am receiving extra income from Social Security for serving in the US Army in 1970_1971

Hi,

The extra income you're referring to are deemed military wages (DMW). During the time you were in the service, Social Security credited you with an extra $300 in wages over and above your actual wages for each calendar quarter (e.g. Jan-Mar, etc.) in which you had active duty (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.09/handbook-0953.html).

I am 64. I just received my annual Social Security statement and am horrified to see that the predicted benefits that I would receive were I to retire at 64, 66, or 70 have all gone down by about 18%. This makes a huge dent in my plan to retire in two years.

How did this happen? Was there a legislative change that was not well publicized? Is there a new calculation method in use?

Hi,

I understand that SS benefit calculated on highest 35 years of wage-indexed earnings, including earnings between age 66 and 70, for delayed retirement.
However, does this also apply if person “filed and suspended” at age 66 and a spousal benefit has been paid?
In other words, will the delayed retirement SS benefit (to be paid at 70) be updated to include (higher) earnings during suspension period?

Hi,

How is the SS benefit calculated if a person starts to draw it at 70 and if he worked full time from the age of 66 to 70, but did not take SS benefits, while he and his employer continued to make SS and Medicaid contributions??

Hi,

Social Security retirement benefits are calculated based on a person's highest 35 years of wage-indexed earnings. For more detailed information, refer to this Social Security publication: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10070.pdf.

My husband is age 74 still working and has not filed for social security benefits. He plans to file next month (May 2017). Will Social Security pay him back for the benefits since age 70 to May 2017? Did my husband forfeited his benefits from age 70 until April 2017 (the period he did not file for the benefits?
Thank you.

Hi,

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!
I'm a hair stylist in my mid 60's and my social security is projected to be 1300 at 70. What can I do to get the payment as high as possible?
thanks,
Jackie

Hi Jackie,

There's really only two ways to increase your monthly retirement benefit rate:
1) Wait past full retirement age (FRA) to begin drawing your benefits; and,
2) Continue to earn as much annually as possible.

Aloha. I am trying to help a family member who was born in 1951 and so (I think!) he qualifies for Social Security benefits when he turns 66 in August. He said that he is concerned about applying during a “rat hole” - a relatively short period of time after one qualifies during which benefits are calculated at a lower value. Do you understand the term, and is there any reason that he should not just file on schedule in August? Any clarification would be greatly appreciated!

Hi,