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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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did u try filing for reconsideration after u got denied?? that mightve changed ur application date i think
We did actually file a reconsideration after the initial denial, but it was also denied because the GPO rules were very clear at that time. I'm not sure if that reconsideration date would become the new application date or if they'd still use the original application. Either way, we have documentation of both.
To follow up on my earlier comment, I want to clarify something important: The application date issue depends partly on whether your wife was technically denied spousal benefits or if she never formally applied because it was clear she wouldn't qualify due to GPO. If she formally applied and was denied (with documentation), then that application date should stand. If she never formally applied for spousal benefits because SSA representatives advised it wouldn't be worthwhile due to GPO, then you might need to establish a protective filing date. In this case, bring any documentation showing she inquired about spousal benefits, even if she didn't complete a formal application. For maximum back benefits, document every interaction you've had regarding spousal benefits over the years.
That's an important distinction! She did formally apply for spousal benefits after starting her own benefits, and we have the official denial letter. The SSA representative initially told her not to bother, but we insisted on applying anyway just to have it on record. Sounds like that was the right move, even though it seemed pointless at the time.
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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!
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Wait so your own benefit is higher than your husbands? In my case my husbands benefit was way higher than mine would ever be so I just took his. But if yours is higher then yeah do what everyone is saying.
Good point about benefit amounts. If the survivor benefit is higher than her own retirement benefit would be at FRA, then she should just take the survivor benefit permanently. But since she mentioned her own benefit would be higher (after 38 years as a nurse), the strategy of taking survivor benefits temporarily and then switching makes perfect sense.
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to try making an appointment at my local office instead of dealing with the phone system. I'll be very clear that I ONLY want survivor benefits for now. I'll also bring printouts of the SSA rules about this to the appointment, just in case. It's so frustrating that even the SSA employees seem confused about their own policies sometimes. I just want to make sure I'm not leaving money on the table while I wait for my FRA in a few months.
That's a smart approach. One more tip: when you go to your appointment, ask specifically for someone who specializes in survivor benefits. And if you sense the person helping you seems unsure, politely ask to speak with a technical expert or supervisor. Good luck!
Luca Greco
anybody know if military service counts extra for social security? i heard something about special credits but dont know if thats real
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StellarSurfer
•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.
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Omar Fawzi
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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