Ask Rusty: How Do I Navigate the Social Security Maze?

Dear Rusty: I am a woman, turning 65 [soon]. It seems that deciding when to claim Social Security is complicated. I would like more information to navigate through this maze. Thank you. Signed: Ready to Claim Dear Ready to Claim: Deciding when to claim Social Security can be challenging, but we hope to make it a bit easier for you. You can, of course, call us at any time to speak to one of our certified Social Security advisors, but I’ll share some pertinent information here as well. Be aware that at age 65, you have not yet reached your Social Security (SS) full retirement age (FRA). Born in 1960, your FRA is age 67, and that is when you can receive 100 percent of the SS benefit you’ve earned from a lifetime of working. If you claim SS at age 65, your monthly amount will be reduced by about 13.3 percent from your age 67 entitlement (a permanent reduction). If you wait a bit more and claim at age 66 the reduction would be about 6.7 percent. To receive 100 percent of your “primary insurance amount” you should wait until age 67 to claim. Note you can also wait longer than your FRA and earn delayed retirement credits up to age 70, when your monthly amount would be about 24 percent more than your FRA entitlement. If you are still working, at age 65 you will also be subject to Social Security’s annual earnings test (AET), which limits how much you can earn when collecting SS benefits before your full retirement age. The earnings limit for 2025 is $23,400 (it changes annually) and if you earn more than that, the Social Security Administration will take away $1 in benefits for every $2 you are over the limit. There is also a special rule for the first calendar year you are collecting early benefits, which will result in you not getting benefits for any month your work earnings are more than $1,950 after your early benefits start. So, if you claim SS at age 65 and continue to work, you won’t get any SS benefits in any 2025 month thereafter that you earn more than the monthly limit (unless your total annual; 2025 earnings are less than the annual limit). FYI, the earnings limit no longer applies once you attain your full retirement age. In the end, when deciding when you should claim Social Security, you should consider your need for Social Security money, your life expectancy, your plans for working, and your marital status. If you are (or were) married, you might be eligible for a spousal (or ex-spouse) benefit. You may also want to peruse the Social Security Q&A section at our website: www.SocialSecurityReport.org. So, as you have already discerned, deciding when to claim Social Security can be confusing, but we are always here to assist you as needed. You can either call us directly at (888) 750-2622 or email your specific Social Security questions to us at: SSAdvisor@amacfoundation.org. In either case, we will be most happy to help you decide when to claim, based on your unique personal circumstances.

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Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org. Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or any other governmental entity.