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Thinking about Social Security benefits at 62?
Social Security is an asset that is taken for granted by many folks. If you are tempted to take Social Security early, when first eligible at age 62, think again: your check will be lower if you don’t wait until what’s called full retirement age. Further, married couples benefit additionally from Social Security planning strategies that can provide additional income.
The Social Security Administration is not allowed to advise on strategies to maximize your benefits, so don’t expect to learn about this from the government. But your financial advisor can tell you how long you should work and what you should do in retirement to avoid outliving your assets.
Before you make a decision
As with everything in life, there are advantages and corresponding disadvantages to every decision and that is true when you are deciding whether or not to take your Social Security benefits before your full retirement age. On the one hand, if you do take your benefits before your full retirement age, then you can collect benefits for a longer period of time. How much longer? Well, that answer is unknown, unless you for sure know your life expectancy.
The disadvantage to taking your retirement benefits before your full retirement age is that your benefits will be reduced. Reduced by how much? Take a look at the chart below to find out.
The decision on when to take your Social Security benefits is a personal one – there is no “perfect age” for everyone. But remember that when you decide to take your benefits, the amount you receive when you first get benefits will set a baseline for the amount you will receive for the rest of your life.
So you need to ask yourself at least these three questions:
- Do I plan to continue working?
- How is my health?
- Are there other family members qualifying for benefits based on my decision?
Full retirement and age 62 benefit by year of birth
| At Age 621 | ||||||
| Year of Birth2 | Full retirement age | Months between age 62 and full retirement age3 | A $1,000 retirement benefit would be reduced to | The retirement benefit is reduced by4 | A $500 spouse's benefit would be reduced to | The spouse's benefit is reduced by5 |
| 1943-1954 | 66 | 48 | $750 | 25.00% | $350 | 30.00% |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months | 50 | 741 | 25.83% | 345 | 30.83% |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months | 52 | 733 | 26.67% | 341 | 31.67% |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months | 54 | 725 | 27.50% | 337 | 32.50% |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months | 56 | 716 | 28.33% | 333 | 33.33% |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months | 58 | 708 | 29.17% | 329 | 34.17% |
| 1960 and later | 67 | 60 | 700 | 30.00% | 325 | 35.00% |
Source: Social Security Administration
Your financial advisor & you
Again, the Social Security Administration is not allowed to advise on strategies to maximize your benefits, but your financial advisor is. Your financial advisor can run different retirement scenarios based on different variables such as: where you are today, how long you might work, projected rates of returns, and future living expenses, while also factoring in rising health care costs, among other things.
Ultimately, the decision is, of course, yours. But your financial advisor can help you make the most informed decision based on your personal goals and objectives.
Important disclosure information
The article above was provided to Synovus by eMoney Advisor, LLC, and is used here with permission from eMoney or a third party content provider. eMoney does not provide investment, tax, legal, or retirement advice or recommendations. The information presented here is not specific to any individual's personal circumstances. To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law. Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances. This information was provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable — we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.
This content is general in nature and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, financial or investment advice. You are encouraged to consult with competent legal, tax, accounting, financial or investment professionals based on your specific circumstances. We do not make any warranties as to accuracy or completeness of this information, do not endorse any third-party companies, products, or services described here, and take no liability for your use of this information.
- You must be at least 62 for the entire month to receive benefits. Back
- If you were born on January 1st, you should refer to the previous year. Back
- If you were born on the 1st of the month, we figure your benefit (and your full retirement age) as if your birthday was in the previous month. If you were born on January 1st, we figure your benefit (and your full retirement age) as if your birthday was in December of the previous year. Back
- Percentages are approximate due to rounding. Back
- The maximum benefit for the spouse is 50 percent of the benefit the worker would receive at full retirement age. The percent reduction for the spouse should be applied after the automatic 50 percent reduction. Percentages are approximate due to rounding. Back