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anybody know if military service counts extra for social security? i heard something about special credits but dont know if thats real
Yes, military service can potentially provide special credits that boost your Social Security earnings record, especially for service during certain periods. It's a bit off-topic from the original question about calculating benefits after stopping work at 45, but if you served in the military, you should definitely look into these credits when calculating your own benefit.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to try the detailed calculator and also consider whether I might be able to do some part-time work to replace some of those zero years. It sounds like even modest earnings could help improve my benefit calculation significantly. I'm also going to try reaching out directly to SSA to get a more personalized estimate given my specific situation. Really appreciate all the insights!
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my neighbor says his son works for ssa and says all the good employees work at the field offices and they put the new people on the phones lol. not sure if thats true but made me laugh
That's interesting! If true, it definitely makes me lean toward the in-person route. I'm skeptical of advice from someone trying to promote their own website too.
One important thing to consider in your situation - since your husband is only 61, he'll be filing early (before FRA), which means a permanently reduced benefit. Make sure whoever helps you explains exactly how much the reduction will be and whether it makes financial sense given your overall situation. Sometimes it's better to live off savings for a while rather than lock in a reduced benefit for life, especially if he might find another job soon. This is exactly the kind of nuanced discussion that works better in person.
You've convinced me - we're definitely going in person. I just scheduled an appointment for next Tuesday. I appreciate everyone's help!
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One important factor many break-even calculators miss is the impact of required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts. If you delay Social Security and use retirement account withdrawals to fund early retirement, you'll reduce future RMDs, potentially lowering your tax bracket in your 70s and beyond. Conversely, if you claim early and preserve retirement accounts, your RMDs could be larger, potentially pushing you into higher tax brackets and causing more of your Social Security to be taxable. This tax interaction effect can shift the break-even point by several years, typically making delaying benefits more advantageous than simple calculators suggest.
This is such an excellent point that most people miss! I worked with a financial planner who showed me that taking SS early while preserving my 401(k) would actually cost me more in taxes later due to larger RMDs pushing me into a higher bracket. The tax implications shifted my breakeven age by almost 4 years compared to the basic calculation.
my neighbor took ss at 62 and invested all of it in bitcoin and now hes rich lol. no calculator shows THAT option!!
This is TERRIBLE advice! Gambling your retirement security on cryptocurrency is EXACTLY how seniors end up broke and desperate! Social Security is meant for ESSENTIAL needs, not speculation. Your neighbor got lucky, but for every story like his, there are THOUSANDS who lost everything!
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I'm so jealous! I tried to do something similar but messed up my earnings calculation and went over the limit by about $4,800. Now SS is making me pay back some benefits and it's a whole hassle. Make sure you track your income REALLY carefully especially if you get any bonuses or overtime that might push you over unexpectedly.
If anyone finds themselves in this situation where SSA is seeking repayment of benefits due to exceeding the earnings limit, you have options: 1) You can request a waiver if it wasn't your fault and repayment would cause financial hardship (Form SSA-632) 2) You can set up a payment plan if you can't repay all at once (Form SSA-634) 3) If you disagree with their determination, you can file for reconsideration (Form SSA-561) It's best to contact SSA directly to discuss your specific situation. Getting through to them can be challenging though. If you're having trouble reaching a representative, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get a callback when handling my mother's survivor benefits issue. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me hours of hold time.
This is a textbook example of how to strategically time your Social Security benefits while managing the transition to retirement. Well done! One thing to consider: once you fully retire in July, you'll want to adjust your withholding on your Social Security benefits. Since you'll have lower total income for the second half of the year, you might be overwithholding. You can file Form W-4V to change your federal tax withholding rate on your Social Security benefits to either 7%, 10%, 12%, or 22% of your monthly benefit. Also, keep in mind that any severance package from your employer would count toward the earnings test limit in the year received. If you're expecting any significant payout when you leave your job, factor that into your calculations. Your strategy shows how powerful it can be to understand the nuances of Social Security rules!
Thank you for mentioning Form W-4V - I'll definitely look into adjusting my withholding once I fully retire. And excellent point about severance! I am expecting a small package (2 weeks per year of service), so that will definitely count toward my earnings limit. I'll recalculate to make sure I stay under even with that included. I appreciate the reminder!
Eduardo Silva
I just remembered something important - ask the doctor to write a note specifically stating your husband cannot work! My husband's neurologist wrote a detailed letter about his limitations and I think that made a big difference in his approval.
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Isabella Costa
Thank you everyone for the helpful advice. After showing my husband these responses, he finally agreed not to work during the application process. We're gathering all his medical records, VA disability documentation, and will be asking his doctors for detailed statements about his limitations. I'm nervous about our finances, but his health and securing these benefits is more important right now. I'll update once we get further in the process.
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Leila Haddad
•That's a wise decision. Remember that if he's approved, SSDI benefits can be paid retroactively for up to 12 months before the application date (depending on when disability began), which might help with financial concerns. Best of luck to you both during this challenging time.
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