Social Security beginner totally lost - where to start at 61?

Don't feel embarrassed! Many people are in the same boat. There's no formal "beginners group" but there are resources. Start by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov - this will show your earnings history and benefit estimates. The SSA does offer free webinars occasionally, check their events page. At 62, you'd get reduced benefits (about 30% less than waiting until your Full Retirement Age, which is probably 67 for you). And yes, your ex-husband's earnings might matter - if you were married 10+ years, you might qualify for spousal benefits based on his record.

i did this last year, just go to the SS office with ur birth certificate and they explain everything. the website makes it way more complicated than it needs to be lol

The SSA has YouTube videos that explain the basics really well. That's how I learned! Search "Social Security retirement benefits explained" and there's a whole series.

Here's what you need to know as a beginner: 1. Your Full Retirement Age (FRA) is when you get your full benefit amount - for someone turning 62 next year, your FRA is 67 2. You can claim as early as 62 (reduced) or as late as 70 (increased) 3. If you were married 10+ years, you can potentially claim on your ex's record (usually 50% of their benefit) if that's higher than your own 4. If you're still working and claim before FRA, there's an earnings limit ($22,320 in 2025) 5. Create a my Social Security account to see your personalized estimates This is definitely confusing at first - I recommend reading the SSA publication "When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits" - just Google it. Excellent overview for beginners.

The earnings limit ($22,320 for 2025) means if you claim benefits before your FRA and earn over that amount, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the limit. Since you're earning under that amount, you wouldn't be affected by this rule. Just be aware that this limit adjusts yearly with inflation.

I spent HOURS on hold trying to get answers from SSA about similar questions. Eventually found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual SSA representative in under 10 minutes. Totally worth it when you're ready to speak with someone directly - just go to claimyr.com. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works. It saved me from the endless hold music nightmare!

IMPORTANT: Don't just claim at 62 without understanding the PERMANENT reduction. So many people make this HUGE mistake. Your payment will be approximately 30% LESS FOR LIFE! Run the numbers before deciding. And if your ex made significantly more than you, DEFINITELY check into spousal benefits on his record!

My sister is going through this right now. The whole process is intimidating but actually not as bad as it seems once you get started. She met with a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning and said it was worth every penny. Might be something to consider if you're really feeling lost.

She asked her accountant for a recommendation. Be careful though - make sure they're a fiduciary (legally obligated to act in your best interest) and not just someone selling retirement products!

One more thing to consider - if you're still working, you might want to delay claiming until you fully retire or reach your FRA. Benefits claimed at 62 are reduced by about 30% permanently compared to claiming at 67 (your FRA). However, if you wait until 70, you get an 8% increase for each year after FRA. That's a potential range from 70% of your full benefit (claiming at 62) to 124% (claiming at 70). This is why getting a personalized analysis is so important. For some people, claiming early makes sense; for others, waiting is better. It depends on your health, longevity in your family, other income sources, and immediate financial needs.