Spring 2017 Issue of Horizons

I used to receive a social security statement each year in the mail; why don’t I receive this anymore? As a cost saving measure in 2011, the Social Security Administration stopped mailing statements to recipients. You can register for an account and access your statement online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount . When is my full retirement age for social security purposes? ∙ If you were born after 1959, your full retirement age is 67 ∙ If you were born before 1955, your full retirement age is 66 ∙ If you were born between 1955 and 1959, your full retirement age is between 66 and 2 months (born in 1955) and 66 and 10 months (born in 1959) When am I entitled to a benefit? Assuming you are entitled to a retirement benefit, you can begin collecting your benefit at age 62. However, if you elect to receive a benefit at age 62, your benefit will be reduced by 25% – 30%, depending on your full retirement age. Your benefit increases each month you delay collecting your benefit from age 62 to your full retirement age. Also, if you elect to delay your benefit past your full retirement date, your benefit will increase by 8% per year until you reach age 70. Am I penalized if I collect social security benefits and continue to work? If you begin collecting social security benefits before your full retirement age and continue to work, your social security benefits will be subjected to an earnings test. If you have attained your full retirement age, the earnings test does not apply. In 2017, the annual exempt earnings amount is $16,920. If you are working and collecting early retirement social security benefits, the Social Security Administration will withhold $1 of benefits for every $2 you earn above $16,920.

For example, if you are collecting $15,000 in early retirement social security benefits and earn $40,000, the Social Security Administration will reduce your benefit by $11,540. My spouse’s social security benefit is much less than mine. Is my spouse entitled to a benefit based on my earnings record? Yes, spouses are entitled to the greater of their own benefit or 50% of their spouse’s full retirement benefit, which is called a spousal benefit. Spousal benefits are reduced if collected before attaining full retirement age. Can my spouse start taking a spousal benefit before I collect mine? If your spouse does not have a benefit based on their earnings record, her or she can’t collect a spousal benefit until you start collecting. How much will my spouse’s social security benefit be if my spouse outlives me? Assuming your spouse has reached full retirement age, he or she will receive the greater of his or her own benefit or yours. Survivors can begin collecting benefits as early as age 60 but their survivor’s benefit will be reduced if they begin collecting before their full retirement age. I am divorced. Can I receive benefits based on my former spouse’s earnings record? If you do not remarry and were married for at least 10 straight years to your former spouse, you are entitled to a spousal benefit of 50% of your former spouse’s full retirement benefit if greater than your own benefit.

If you remarry, you can’t receive benefits on your former spouse unless your current marriage ends in divorce, death or annulment.

Social Security: Frequently Asked Questions

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