Is the SSA's 'Social Security 101' pre-retirement webinar worth attending? Need honest feedback

I attended one last month and found it surprisingly helpful. It's definitely basic information, but they explain things clearly - especially how your FRA (Full Retirement Age) affects your benefit amount and the penalties for filing early. They covered the earnings test too, which was useful since I'm still working part-time. The presenter answered questions at the end about spousal benefits and survivors benefits that weren't in the main presentation. Worth the hour for sure if you're just starting to plan.

I watched it and honestly felt it was SUPER BASIC!! They barely scratched the surface on important stuff like WEP/GPO for government workers. If you have ANY pension from non-covered employment, the webinar is practically USELESS! I ended up more confused and had to call the SSA directly (good luck with THAT nightmare). Wasted an hour of my life I'll never get back!

went to one about 3 months ago it was ok i guess. presenter seemed new and kinda read off the slides a lot. but they did have handouts that were useful still have mine somewhere

I attended one just a few weeks ago, and while the information was accurate, I wouldn't say it was comprehensive. It's definitely aimed at beginners. They covered the basics of eligibility, how benefits are calculated using your highest 35 years of earnings, and the impact of claiming age on your monthly amount. But they didn't dive deep into more advanced strategies. The most valuable part for me was actually when people asked questions - that's where some of the more nuanced information came out. My suggestion is to come prepared with specific questions about your situation. Also, when I tried following up on some questions by calling SSA directly, I kept getting disconnected or waiting forever. I eventually used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent quickly. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me hours of frustration and I got my specific questions answered.

I went to one of those webinars and then my brother went to one 2 weeks later and they had completely different information! Mine talked a lot about spousal benefits and his didn't mention them at all. I think it really depends on which presenter you get. Some are better than others. My cousin works for the IRS and she says a lot of the tax information they presented wasn't even right so take everything with a grain of salt!

I found the Social Security 101 webinar to be a good foundation, but it's just the beginning of your research journey. The presentation does cover how your primary insurance amount (PIA) is calculated and explains the reduction percentages for early filing versus the delayed retirement credits. They also discuss the earnings test thresholds for 2025 ($22,750 for those under FRA and $60,480 in the year you reach FRA). However, what they don't adequately address are the nuances of spousal coordination strategies or how to optimize benefits when you have multiple eligibility pathways. I'd recommend attending, taking notes, and then scheduling a one-on-one consultation with an SSA representative to discuss your specific situation. Also, check out the SSA's retirement benefits calculator on their website to run some scenarios based on your earnings history.

i went to the webinar last year and it was good info for beginners. my only complaint is the presenter went through the slides way too fast! especially the ones about COLAs and benefit calculations. but when i asked about my specific situation (divorced after 9 years marriage) they were very helpful.

Just remember that these webinars are designed to give you the BARE MINIMUM information! They DON'T tell you about all the loopholes and special filing strategies that could get you thousands more in benefits. My financial advisor showed me how to optimize my benefits in ways the SSA never mentioned. They're not going to tell you how to maximize your payout!

I attended the webinar about 6 months ago when I was 62 and considering early retirement. It's definitely worth the hour, especially if you're new to Social Security planning like I was. They do a good job explaining the relationship between your full retirement age and benefit amounts, and the breakeven analysis for early vs delayed filing was eye-opening. One thing I found particularly useful was their explanation of how continuing to work affects your benefits - both the earnings test limits and how additional earnings can potentially increase your benefit amount if they're higher than previous years in your top 35. My advice: attend with specific questions ready. The Q&A portion was where I learned the most, including details about Medicare enrollment timing that I hadn't considered. Even though it's basic level, it gives you a solid foundation to build on when you start diving deeper into your personal strategy.