retirement starting point

saradhagm — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 16:43:02 GMT

Assuming a life span of 85 years, what is the best time to start taking Social security?

Re: retirement starting point

Destiny_Y_JD — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:24:16 GMT

While the true answer to this would technically depend on what works best for you and your family, below are some ways to increase the amount of SSA benefit you receive if you delay your retirement.
You can get Social Security retirement benefits as early
as age 62. However, your benefits will be reduced if you retire before your full retirement age. For example, if you turn age 62 in 2021, your benefit would be about 29.2 percent lower than it would be at your full retirement age of 66 and 10 months.
Some people will stop working before age 62. But if they do, the years with no earnings will probably mean a lower Social Security benefit when they retire.
Sometimes health problems force people to retire
early. If you can’t work because of health problems,
consider applying for Social Security disability
benefits. The disability benefit amount is the same as
a full, unreduced retirement benefit. If you’re getting
Social Security disability benefits when you reach full
retirement age, SSA will convert those benefits to retirement benefits.
You can choose to keep working beyond your full
retirement age. If you do, you can increase your future
Social Security benefits in two ways.
Each extra year you work adds another year of earnings
to your Social Security record. Higher lifetime earnings
can mean higher benefits when you retire.
Also, your benefit will increase a certain percentage
from the time you reach full retirement age, until you
start receiving benefits, or until you reach age 70. The
percentage varies depending on your year of birth. For
example, if you were born in 1943 or later, SSA will add
8 percent to your benefit for each full year you delay
receiving Social Security benefits beyond your full
retirement age.
(Source: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10035.pdf )

Re: retirement starting point

saradhagm — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:33:26 GMT

Thanks for the answer. Good points made.

Also, like to know what is the break even point if I started collecting at 62 vs 66/10 vs 70 years for

a life span of 85 years. Thanks

Re: retirement starting point

Destiny_Y_JD — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:36:46 GMT

Social Security retirement benefits are increased by a certain percentage for each month you delay starting your benefits beyond full retirement age. The benefit increase stops when you reach age 70.

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retirement starting point

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