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what about that thing where if u worked for the government ur ss gets cut? my friend had that happen, windfall something?
That's the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These have been part of Social Security law since the 1980s and only affect people who receive pensions from jobs where they didn't pay Social Security taxes. It's not a recent cut and doesn't apply to the vast majority of workers who paid into Social Security throughout their careers.
I really appreciate everyone's input. I think I'm going to take a breath and not make a hasty decision based on fear. The 25% permanent reduction would be a big hit to take just to avoid a theoretical future cut that might not even happen, especially since it sounds like near-retirees like me would likely be protected anyway. Still anxious about it, but at least I understand the situation better now. I'll talk to my financial planner again with this new perspective.
That's a wise approach. One additional point to consider: if you're still working, there's also an earnings limit until you reach full retirement age. In 2025, you'll lose $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above $22,750 (approximately). So if you're still earning decent income, that's another reason waiting might make financial sense in your situation.
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this might sound stupid but i thought survivor benefits were only for ppl who never worked? if u were working and getting ssdi on ur own record why would u even qualify for anything from his record?
Not a stupid question at all! Many people misunderstand this. You can qualify for benefits on your own work record AND be eligible for survivor benefits from your deceased spouse's record. Social Security will pay you the higher of the two amounts, not both combined (with a few specific exceptions). For example, if your own retirement benefit is $1,800/month but your potential survivor benefit would be $2,100/month, you could receive the $2,100 instead. You're always entitled to the higher amount, regardless of whether you worked or not.
After reading through this thread, I'd like to add one important point: even if it turns out you can't get retroactive payments, you should still pursue this because if your survivor benefit is higher than your current benefit, you can switch to it now and increase your monthly payment going forward. At age 70, that could mean many years of higher benefits. One strategy to consider: when you contact SSA, first ask for an explanation of what your husband's benefit would have been if he had lived to claiming age, with all applicable COLAs. Get that specific number before discussing any retroactive claim issues. This separates the question of "what should I be receiving now" from the more complicated question of "what should I have received in the past.
That's really smart advice. Focus on getting the correct benefit amount going forward first, then worry about the past payments as a separate issue. I'll definitely take that approach. Thank you!
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btw the COLA is rumored to be around 2.5% this year. not great but better than nothing!!
That would add about $60 to my monthly amount. Not huge but definitely helps with inflation!
One important clarification: The COLA being announced this week will be effective for payments received in January 2025. Since Social Security pays benefits in the month following the month for which they are due, your February 2025 payment (which is for January 2025) will indeed include the COLA increase. You should receive a notice called "Your New Benefit Amount" in December that will show: 1. Your current benefit amount 2. The new benefit amount after COLA 3. The date the new amount takes effect This is sent automatically to all beneficiaries - no need to request it.
Wait I'm confused now. If benefits are paid the month AFTER they're due, and my first check is coming February 2025, does that mean it's actually for January 2025? And would include COLA?
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Just to give you a concrete example with numbers to help with your planning: If your combined income is $65,000 (including half of her SS benefits of $9,000), then you'd be well into the range where 85% of her benefits would be taxable. With a $1,500 monthly benefit: - $1,500 × 12 = $18,000 annual SS benefit - 85% of $18,000 = $15,300 taxable amount - At a 12% federal tax bracket, that's roughly $1,836 in taxes on her benefits for the year - Monthly equivalent: about $153/month in taxes So if she chooses 10% withholding ($150/month), she'd receive $1,350 monthly and be very close to covering the tax liability on the benefits.
This breakdown is incredibly helpful, thank you! Having the actual dollar amounts and percentages makes it so much clearer. Seems like 10% withholding would be about right for our situation. Really appreciate you taking the time to map this out.
Don't forget that the $1500 benefit amount on the SSA website assumes you continue working until your FRA with the same income. If she's retiring completely at 62, the actual benefit might be a bit lower than what's estimated. Might be worth checking with SSA directly to get a more accurate figure before you finalize your budget.
That's a really important point I hadn't considered. She's been working consistently for years but I didn't realize the estimate assumes continued work. Definitely something we need to verify before making final decisions. Thank you!
Ezra Bates
Wait isn't the earnings limit going up for 2025? I thought I saw somewhere it was going to be more than $22,340?
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Brooklyn Foley
•You're right to question this. The 2025 limit hasn't been officially announced yet. The $22,340 figure is likely an estimate based on previous COLA increases. The actual 2025 limit will be announced in October 2024, and it will probably be a bit higher depending on the COLA for 2025. For planning purposes though, the $22,340 estimate is reasonable.
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Keith Davidson
dont forget they also look at how many months before u reach FRA... the earnings limit is different in the year u reach full retirement age too
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Avery Saint
•Good point. I won't reach my FRA until 2029, so I'll have the lower earnings limit for several years. I'll need to be careful about any part-time work I might do after officially retiring.
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