3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Claim Social Security

Insights from experienced financial professionals.

Planning for retirement is exciting, but it may come with a bit of stress. If you worked hard all your life, now might be the time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. One of the things that you may need to consider is when it is time to begin claiming your Social Security benefits. If you are unsure when to start your claim, here are a few questions that may help you determine if it is time to make a claim or if you should delay a little longer.

 

1. When Are You Considered Full Retirement Age?

The first question to ask is what is considered your full retirement age. Once you are at your full retirement age, you are entitled to your full monthly Social Security benefit. The full retirement age depends on the year you were born. Those born in 1958 are at full retirement age at 66 and eight months. Those born in 1959 are at full retirement age at 66 and 10 months. Those born after 1960 come to full retirement age at 67.2 years old.

 

2. How Much Money Do You Have in Your Retirement Savings?

You will want to consider the monthly income you get from your retirement savings. Determine how much annual income you need for your monthly obligations. Then see how much money you need to withdraw from your savings each year. If there is a shortfall, you may want to claim your Social Security when you are eligible. If you have enough annual income from savings for your needs, you may want to wait on your claim to get a higher monthly benefit.¹

 

3. Are You Dealing With Any Major Health Issues?

While delaying your Social Security payments may result in a larger monthly benefit, the payouts end up being the same overall amount in total. Social Security payment calculations use the average life span, and the amount is divided by how many years you are likely to claim the benefits. Certain major health conditions may result in a lessened life span. If this is the case, making an early claim may be the better option if you feel you might not claim your benefits for the full average life span. If you are in good health and do not have any conditions that are likely to result in a shorter life span than average, you may choose to wait if you have enough money to sustain yourself until a later age.¹

Navigating retirement may seem a little daunting as you decide how to sustain yourself comfortably in your later years. While one of your significant decisions is determining when to start claiming Social Security, by answering the few questions above, you may be in a better position to come to the decision that may work for you.

 

 

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^Footnotes

^{1 If You Can't Answer These 3 Questions, You're Not Ready for Social Security}

^{https://lacrossetribune.com/business/investment/personal-finance/if-you-cant-answer-these-3-questions-youre-not-ready-for-social-security/article_e5ef230a-6fc2-5bd0-9c2e-e4eea386561d.html}

^{2 Your Social Security Statement, SSA.gov, https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/assets/materials/SSA-7005-SM-SI%20Wanda%20Worker%20Near%20retirement.pdf}