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My sister and I both retired around the same time (she was 65, I was 67) and there's about a 15% difference in our monthly payments even though we had very similar careers and earnings. Those two years make a big difference! Just something to think about...
Same with me and my neighbor! The difference adds up to thousands every year. I wish someone had explained this better to me before I applied.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I think I'll apply in November 2024 so benefits can start in March 2025. I'm going to talk to my financial advisor one more time about whether I should wait until closer to my FRA given the reduction at 65. Really appreciate all the insights!
Good plan. One last thing to consider: if you have significant savings or investments, sometimes it makes mathematical sense to take SS early and preserve your nest egg. Other times, waiting and drawing down savings first yields better lifetime results. Your financial advisor should be able to run those calculations based on your specific situation.
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my brother is self employed too and he said u should ask ur CPA about SEP IRA or solo 401k...he says u can put away more $ for retirement that way n reduce ur taxes at the same time
That's a good point - I do have a SEP IRA that my CPA set up. I contribute the maximum each year. Actually, that's part of what I'm meeting with the financial advisor about on Monday - figuring out if I'm saving enough between that and my expected Social Security benefits.
When I was self-employed, I found it helpful to create a spreadsheet to track my Social Security contributions each year. I used it to project my future benefits. One thing to keep in mind is that benefits are calculated based on your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusted for inflation. If you have fewer than 35 years of work, they'll use zeros for the missing years, which can significantly lower your benefit amount.
That's a great idea about the spreadsheet. I'm 42 now and have been working since I was 22, but I had several years of very low earnings when I was first starting out. I'll have to factor that into my calculations.
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Thank you all for the helpful advice! Based on what everyone has shared, I think I need to reconsider my strategy. Since I'll still be working until September 2025 and earning well above the limit, it probably makes sense to wait until after I retire to apply for survivor benefits. I'll still be under my regular FRA but at least I won't have the earnings test reducing my benefits. Then I can consider switching to my own retirement benefit at 70 if the delayed credits make it higher than my survivor benefit. Is there anything else I should consider in this situation?
That sounds like a solid plan given your circumstances. One more consideration: the month you stop working in September 2025 might still count as a high-earnings month depending on when in the month you finish. Some people find it cleanest to start benefits the month after they completely stop working. Also, when you do apply, you'll need to complete an earnings estimate form for 2025 so SSA can calculate any necessary withholding. Be as accurate as possible, as significant differences between your estimate and actual earnings can result in overpayments or underpayments that need to be reconciled later.
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watch out for the tax stuff to my accountant says survivor benifits get taxed the same as regular social security so if she works and has good income while collecting then up to 85% could be taxable... just another thing they dont tell you till its to late
This is correct. Survivor benefits are treated the same as other Social Security benefits for tax purposes. If her combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + 1/2 of Social Security benefits) exceeds $25,000 for a single filer, then a portion of the benefits becomes taxable, up to 85% for higher incomes. With her continuing to work, this will almost certainly be a factor.
Have you both checked your benefit estimates on the My Social Security portal? Sometimes the estimates on the statements can be off, especially if you have years of zero or low earnings in your work history. Might be worth making sure the $2,700 and $1,500 figures are accurate before making any final decisions.
That's a good reminder. I have checked mine recently, but she hasn't looked at hers in about 18 months. We should both get updated statements to make sure we're working with the most accurate figures.
Ezra Collins
quick question - does anyone know if the earnings limit applies to investment income or just wages?? i have some stocks i might sell this year
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Benjamin Johnson
•The earnings test only applies to wages from employment or net earnings from self-employment. Investment income like stock sales, dividends, interest, pension payments, government benefits, lottery winnings, etc. don't count toward the earnings limit. So your stock sales wouldn't affect your Social Security benefits regardless of how much profit you make.
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Justin Evans
Thanks everyone for the great information! To summarize what I've learned: there's NO hourly limit, just the earnings cap of $59,520 for months before FRA in 2025. I need to track when money is EARNED not paid, and be proactive about reporting if I might exceed the limit. Investment income doesn't count toward the limit, and any benefit reductions now will increase my benefit amount later. Really appreciate all the help!
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Emily Parker
•Sounds like you've got it! One last tip - if you're close to your FRA and have flexibility with your work schedule, sometimes it makes sense to shift some income to after your FRA month when there's no limit at all. Good luck with everything!
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