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Social Security tax withholding question - 401k contributions while collecting early SS benefits
I'm planning to take my SS retirement benefits starting next January (about 11 months before my Full Retirement Age). I know about the earnings limit and plan to work minimal hours to avoid benefit reductions. My question is about FICA taxes - if I direct 100% of my earnings into my company's 401k until I fully retire, will Social Security taxes still be taken out of my paycheck? I'm wondering if contributing everything to my 401k might help me stay under the earnings limit or if FICA is calculated differently than income tax. Anyone dealt with this situation before?
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Can ex-spouse Social Security benefits increase if they took early retirement but I wait until my FRA?
I'm really confused about how ex-spouse benefits work with FRA calculations. My ex-husband started collecting his Social Security at 62 (about 2 years ago). When I called SSA last month, they told me what I'd qualify for at my full retirement age based on his record, but I'm wondering - will that amount increase over the next 3 years until I reach my FRA at 67? Does his benefit amount continue to grow even though he's already collecting early? Or is my potential ex-spouse benefit already locked in at whatever his PIA was when he filed early? The SSA rep didn't clearly explain this part and I'm worried I might be leaving money on the table.
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My cousin took her ex spousal benefit at 62 and regrets it SO MUCH cause it got reduced like 30%! Def wait for ur FRA if u can afford to!
This is good advice. Taking ex-spouse benefits early results in the same reduction percentages as taking your own retirement benefits early. At 62, that's approximately a 30% permanent reduction from what you'd get at FRA. The only time it might make sense to claim early is if you absolutely need the income or have health concerns that might limit your longevity.
wait im confused does this mean my ex taking SS early screws me over? or not? can someone explain this in simple terms plz
No, your ex taking Social Security early does NOT affect your benefit amount. Your ex-spouse benefit is based on what your ex would have received at their full retirement age (their PIA), NOT what they actually receive after early retirement reductions. The only thing that reduces YOUR ex-spouse benefit is if YOU take it before YOUR full retirement age. If your ex takes it early, it has zero impact on your potential benefit amount.
Social Security ex-spouse benefits with 7-year age gap - Can I switch from my own SS to higher ex-spouse benefits later?
I've been stressing about my retirement planning for weeks now. I'm 58 and was married for 13 years before divorcing in 2018. My ex is significantly younger (51 now) and has always earned way more than me - I'd guess their lifetime earnings are probably triple mine. I know I can claim reduced benefits on my own record at 62, but I'm wondering about strategy here. Since my ex won't even reach their FRA until after I turn 70, can I start with my own reduced benefits at 62 and then later switch to ex-spouse benefits? I understand I'd get 50% of their FRA amount, and I'm pretty sure that would be higher than my full benefit even with the reduction for claiming early. Do I have to wait until they file for their own benefits? Or can I file on their record once they're eligible even if they haven't filed yet? The SSA website is so confusing on this, and I can't get through on the phone to ask questions. Appreciate any insights from folks who have navigated this!
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OK I'M CONFUSED!!! I thought that if you were married for 10+ years you could claim 50% of your ex's benefit REGARDLESS of when they claim??? Isn't that the WHOLE POINT of the divorced spouse benefit?? That you don't have to coordinate with them?? Why is everyone saying you have to wait until your ex is 62? That makes NO SENSE to me and defeats the purpose of the benefit!! Also my cousin's friend got divorced after 11 years and she's getting benefits on her ex-husband's record RIGHT NOW even though he hasn't filed yet so I KNOW it's possible!!!
You're confusing two different rules: 1. You don't have to coordinate WITH your ex-spouse (they don't need to file first, and you don't need their permission) 2. BUT your ex-spouse still needs to be at least 62 (eligible for benefits) before you can claim on their record Your cousin's friend's ex-husband is presumably at least 62, which is why she can claim on his record even if he hasn't filed yet. The original poster's ex is only 51, so they wouldn't be eligible for another 11 years. The "not having to coordinate" part means once the ex is 62+, you don't need them to actually file for benefits before you can claim on their record.
Been there done that with the ex-spouse stuff. Just remember you need ur marriage certificate AND divorce decree when you apply! They made me go home and come back when I didn't have both. Super annoying since I had to take another day off work.
That's a great tip, thank you! I think I know where my divorce decree is, but I'll have to hunt down the marriage certificate. It's been so long I'm not even sure where I put it.
Can my husband claim spousal Social Security benefits if I'm still working at 60?
I'm really confused about how spousal benefits work with our age difference. I'm 60 and my husband is 65, we're both still working full-time. I carry our health insurance through my employer. Based on our earnings history, my Social Security benefit will be significantly higher than his when we eventually retire. Here's what I'm trying to figure out: Can my husband claim 50% of my Social Security benefit even though I haven't started collecting yet (since I'm only 60)? Or does he have to wait until I start collecting before he can get the spousal benefit? Also, is it possible for him to claim his own smaller benefit now at 65, then switch to claiming half of mine once I start collecting? We're trying to maximize our retirement income, so any insight would be really appreciated!
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To clarify the Medicare point: Yes, if the husband is covered under the wife's current employer health insurance (from her active employment), AND the employer has 20+ employees, then he can delay enrolling in Medicare Part B without penalty. He would need to get a form called \
This is all super helpful information. I definitely don't want to file early just to enable his spousal benefits if it's going to permanently reduce my benefit. It sounds like the best approach might be for him to wait until his FRA at 67 to claim his own benefit, and then I can file for mine when I reach my FRA (which would be 67 too, I think).
Can my younger disabled husband get survivor benefits if I die? He was denied SSDI for lack of work credits
I'm currently 65 and receiving SSDI benefits after working most of my life. My husband (54) has a permanent disability that prevents him from working, but when he applied for disability benefits, SSA rejected him because he 'didn't have enough work credits.' We're struggling to make ends meet on just my disability payment, which is our only source of income. What's really keeping me up at night is worrying about what would happen to him if I died before he reaches retirement age. Would he be eligible for any kind of survivor benefits based on my work record? We've been married for 12 years if that matters. I tried asking when I called SSA, but after waiting for 2 hours, I got disconnected and haven't had the energy to try again. Any guidance would be so appreciated.
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One more important thing I forgot to mention - your husband should apply for the widower benefits as soon as possible after your passing (though I hope that's many years from now). The application process can be lengthy, especially for disability-based survivor benefits. Also, if he's denied initially (which happens frequently), he should definitely appeal. Many legitimate claims are denied on the first try but approved on reconsideration or at a hearing level. And having a disability attorney can help tremendously - they typically only charge if they win the case (usually 25% of backpay with a cap).
Thank you for this additional information. I've heard that many disability claims get denied initially. I'll make sure he knows to appeal if necessary. Do you know if there are any specific forms or documentation he should have ready? I want to prepare as much as possible for him.
When my father died, my disabled mother had a similar situation. A key thing that helped was having a "funeral fund" set aside because survivor benefits don't start immediately, and there's often a gap period with no income. Also, make sure your husband knows where all important documents are kept - death certificate, marriage certificate, your SS number, birth certificates, etc. The SSA requires these for the application process. Having them organized ahead of time saved my mom a lot of stress.
This is really practical advice, thank you. I hadn't thought about the gap between when I might pass and when benefits would actually start coming in. I'll start setting aside some emergency funds and get our documents organized in one place.
GalaxyGuardian
my sister found a loophole! she started a small business and pays herself as a consultant AFTER she hits full retirement age so she doesnt have to deal with any of this. not sayin its for everyone but thought id mention...
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Aisha Abdullah
Just a clarification - that's not actually a loophole. Once someone reaches Full Retirement Age, the earnings test no longer applies regardless of employment type. They can earn unlimited income without reduction in benefits. Self-employment income is still subject to FICA taxes (though paid through self-employment tax), and the earnings test would still apply to self-employment income before FRA. The strategy you mentioned only works because she waited until FRA, not because of how she structured her income.
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Jamal Brown
When my husband retired we went through the EXACT same thing! We thought we were being so clever with the 401k idea but NOPE! Social Security taxes still came out and the earnings still counted for the limit. He ended up just fully retiring 6 months earlier than planned because the math worked out better that way. Sometimes simple is better.
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