By Matthew Gaude & Shawn McGuire
Approaching retirement can be a pretty scary time. You have to figure out what you’re going to do with your golden years and how you can make it happen. Making sure you have enough income to reach your retirement goals can be tricky, and trying to understand how to get the most out of Social Security benefits can be especially confusing.
With a record number of people expected to retire as the baby boomer generation collectively reaches age 65, (1) it’s more important than ever that you fully understand how your benefits work—and how they can be maximized. Using this guide, we hope you can build some confidence and be prepared to maximize your Social Security benefits as you enter the best years of your life.
How Are Social Security Benefits Calculated?
Your Social Security benefits are calculated based on lifetime earnings. The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates your benefit based on your 35 highest-earning years, with a minimum of 10 years of work required to be eligible for benefits. If you have worked less than 35 years, your earnings will be calculated with zeros for the years you have not worked. All past wages are indexed to today’s wages in order to accurately reflect wage growth.
Once your average monthly earnings for your top 35 years are calculated, a special formula is applied and the result is your primary insurance amount (PIA). The PIA is the benefit you are eligible to receive when you reach full retirement age (FRA).
The actual benefit you receive may not be your PIA. Your PIA will be increased or decreased depending on when you choose to receive benefits. Taking benefits before FRA will reduce your benefit, and waiting until after FRA will increase your monthly benefit. Also, starting at age 62, your eligible benefits will receive regular cost-of-living adjustments (COLA).
Spousal Benefits
Married people are eligible for benefits based on their spouse’s work history. The spousal benefit is 50% of the working spouse’s earned benefit. In order to receive these benefits, the working spouse must be at least 62 and have already filed for benefits.
If you are divorced, you may also be eligible to receive spousal benefits based on your ex-spouse’s work history. Your marriage needs to have lasted at least 10 years, you must be divorced for at least two years, and you must still be single. In addition, you need to be at least 62 and not eligible for higher benefits based on your own work record. Unlike spousal benefits for married people, your ex-spouse does not need to have filed for benefits in order for you to claim them.
When Can You Claim Social Security Benefits?
You can claim your Social Security benefits anytime between age 62 and age 70. If you continue to delay taking benefits after you reach age 70, there is no additional benefit increase. However, the age at which you choose to collect benefits before 70 will impact the amount of benefit you receive.
Early Retirement
You can start receiving benefits as early as 62, but your monthly benefit will be lower than if you waited longer. Your basic benefit is reduced a fraction of a percent for each month you begin receiving benefits prior to full retirement age. Retiring early can permanently reduce your benefit by up to 30%.
Full Retirement Age
Your full retirement age (FRA) changes based on the year you were born. FRA is 66 for those born between 1943 and 1954 and increases by two months for every year after that you were born until it settles at age 67 for those born in 1960 or later. If you wait until you reach full retirement age to begin collecting your Social Security benefits, you will receive the full PIA that you have earned.
| Year Born | Full Retirement Age (FRA) |
| 1943 to 1954 | 66 |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months |
| 1960 and later | 67 |
Delayed Benefits
If you’re still working or don’t need the money immediately, you can delay receiving your benefits. Your benefit will increase by 8% for each year that you delay, with a maximum possible increase of 32%. You cannot delay and increase your benefit indefinitely, though. Once you reach age 70, the amount of benefits you receive will not increase any further.
When Is the Best Time to Claim Social Security Benefits?
While you are working, you can increase your future Social Security benefits by earning higher wages. Once you stop working, though, the only influence you have over your benefit is when you begin to take it. Your timing has a great impact on the amount of the benefit you will receive and should be carefully considered.
The Social Security Statement Gets a Makeover
An important document that you will reference during the decision-making process is your Social Security statement. The Social Security Administration mails statements to workers age 60 and over who aren’t receiving Social Security benefits and do not yet have a my Social Security account. These statements will be mailed out three months prior to your birthday, but you can also access the same information by setting up an account on their website.
The personal Social Security statement, created to help Americans understand the Social Security benefits they might be entitled to, has been redesigned for the first time. The new statement is shorter, uses visual elements and plain language, and includes fact sheets tailored to a person’s age and earnings history.
Page one contains personalized estimates of retirement, disability, and survivor benefits, along with a bar chart showing projected monthly retirement benefits at nine different claiming ages – from age 62 to 70.
The statement will tell you your:
- Estimated benefit taken at different ages between 62 and 70:
- Estimated disability benefit
- Estimated family and survivor benefits
- Medicare information
- Earnings history separated by decade
All benefit amounts listed are estimates and subject to change. They are calculated based on your date of birth and future estimated taxable earnings.
It is important for you to review your earnings history and check for accuracy. The new 2022 statement has earnings separated by decade only, which means you will have to visit ssa.gov/myaccount to review individual earnings for every year.
Your benefit is calculated based on these numbers, so any mistakes can affect your benefits. You should correct any errors as soon as possible.
Page two has a year-by-year table of your work earnings for any job subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes, as well as how much you paid in those taxes. It also contains short descriptions of benefit calculations and notes on eligibility.
To access your statement, visit ssa.gov and sign up for a “my Social Security” account.
Once you have an account, you can view, save, and print an up-to-date version of your statement at any time.
Click here to view a short 1 minute and 56 second video describing the format of the new social security statement.
Deciding When to Claim Benefits
Your Social Security benefits are calculated using complex actuarial equations based on life expectancy and estimated rates of return. They are not designed to encourage early or late retirement. If you live as long as anticipated, the total amount you receive over your lifetime should be about the same whether you claim it at age 62, age 70, or sometime in between. You will either receive the money as a smaller monthly payment over a longer period of time or a larger monthly payment over a shorter period of time.
The best time for you to claim your benefits depends on your personal situation and health. If you expect to live longer than average, your overall lifetime benefit will be greater if you delay claiming your benefits to increase your benefit amount. If the opposite is true and you see little chance of making it into your mid-80s, you would likely receive a greater lifetime benefit by taking it sooner, even though it would be a smaller monthly payment.
Once you decide when you want to start receiving benefits, remember to complete your application three months before the month in which you want your retirement benefits to begin.
How Can Married Couples Maximize Benefits?
Because married people have the ability to receive their own benefit or a spousal benefit, they have more to consider when filing for benefits. With the right strategy, married couples can maximize their benefits.
In the majority of cases, the lower-earning spouse may want to begin collecting benefits early while the higher-earning spouse waits as long as possible. That way, you can access the lesser benefit while maximizing the higher benefit.
Often, it is the husband with the higher benefit and the wife with the lower one. Women also tend to live longer than men. By following this strategy of waiting as long as possible to claim the higher benefit, you not only maximize the husband’s retirement benefit for use while he is alive, but it also maximizes the wife’s survivor benefit when he passes away.
Restricted Application
While it used to be a popular claiming strategy, the Restricted Application is now only available to those born before January 2, 1954. By restricting your application, you can receive a spousal benefit if your spouse is already collecting benefits while allowing your own benefit to continue to grow until age 70. That way, you can begin to receive spousal benefits while maximizing your own benefit.
How Does Working Affect Benefits?
Working does not affect your benefits once you reach FRA, but it does before that. Only earned income, such as wages and self-employment earnings, affects your Social Security benefits. Income from investments, pensions, and annuities do not affect Social Security benefits.
When you are under FRA for the whole year, your Social Security benefit is reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn over $19,560. (2) In the year that you reach FRA, your benefit is reduced by $1 for every $3 you earn over $51,960. (3) Once you reach FRA, your benefit is no longer reduced no matter how much you earn. These dollar amounts adjust each year, so your benefit may change in following years.
Changes for 2022
In 2022 the COLA is 5.9%, which is the biggest increase in 40 years. Individuals can expect benefits to rise by an average of $92 per month, while married couples will see a $154 benefit increase. (4) There is also an increase to the Social Security tax cap. The cap is increased by $4,200 to $147,000, (5) meaning Social Security taxes will not be withheld from income earned above that amount.
How Does Social Security Fit Within Your Financial Plan?
When we request documents to complete your financial plan, we will request a recent copy of your Social Security statement for you and/or your spouse. Once we receive your social security statements, we will then input data needed into our social security analsyis software to present several different scenarios to determine when it may be best to start Social Security based on your specific situation. Our reports will provide you easy to read analysis such as:
Work With an Experienced Professional
Depending on how much you have in savings, when and how you claim your Social Security benefits could very well be the most important retirement decision you make. Because of the significance and complexity of this decision, it’s a good idea to consult with a financial professional before beginning the process.
We at Live Oak Wealth Management can help you navigate the Social Security process, allowing you to feel confident and prepared for the next chapter of your life. If you are nearing retirement and have questions about what role Social Security will play in your overall plan, we would love to hear from you. Call our office at 770-552-5968 or email [email protected]. Or, if you prefer, you can simply click here to schedule an appointment online.
About Matthew
Matthew Gaude is an *investment advisor representative and the co-founder of Live Oak Wealth Management, a financial services firm in Roswell, Georgia. He serves the planning and investment needs of corporate employees, those approaching or in retirement, and 401(k) plan sponsors. Working first as a commodity broker and then as a Business Development Manager for a national broker-dealer in previous jobs, he has the insight and experience to help clients understand the complexities of the market and implement strategies to minimize risk. To learn more about Matthew, connect with him on LinkedIn or visit www.liveoakwm.com.
About Shawn
Shawn McGuire is a financial advisor and the co-founder of Live Oak Wealth Management, a financial services firm in Roswell, Georgia. He serves the planning and investment needs of corporate employees, those approaching or in retirement, and 401(k) plan sponsors. He has worked in financial services since 2002 in positions ranging from financial advisor to stock broker and portfolio manager. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, he is trained to help clients with virtually all their financial needs. To learn more about Shawn, connect with him on LinkedIn or visit www.liveoakwm.com.
Securities offered through American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through *American Portfolio Advisors, Inc., a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Live Oak Wealth Management, LLC is independently owned and not affiliated with APFS or APA.
Any opinions expressed in this forum are not the opinion or view of American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) or American Portfolios Advisors, Inc. (APA) and have not been reviewed by the firm for completeness or accuracy. These opinions are subject to change at any time without notice. Any comments or postings are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an offer or a recommendation to buy or sell securities or other financial instruments. Readers should conduct their own review and exercise judgment prior to investing. Investments are not guaranteed, involve risk, and may result in a loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investments are not suitable for all types of investors. Seek tax advice from a tax professional. Neither APFS nor its Representatives provide tax, legal or accounting advice.
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(1) https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/12/by-2030-all-baby-boomers-will-be-age-65-or-older.html
(2) https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2022.pdf
(3) https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2022.pdf
(4) https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/social-security-changes-coming-next-year
(5) https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2022.pdf