What-Benefits.com

how to know your social security benefits

by Miss Alexanne Smitham Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  1. Set up your online access. Begin by visiting my Social Security and setting up an online account. ...
  2. Review your earnings history. While you are still logged into your account, look for the link to your earnings history. ...
  3. Estimate your future earnings. The benefit estimate you see in your online account assumes your earnings will remain the same for the rest of your working years.
  4. Check different claiming ages. If you don't like the benefit estimate you see for claiming at 62, try testing other claiming ages. ...
  5. Know the impact of continuing to work. When you claim Social Security at 62, know that you are subject to a cap on wage income. ...

Estimate Your Benefits
If you have a personal my Social Security account, you can get an estimate of your personalized retirement benefits and see the effects of different retirement age scenarios. If you don't have a personal my Social Security account, create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Full Answer

How can I find out my Social Security benefits?

These fact sheets include:

  • Retirement Ready (Fact Sheet For Workers Ages 18-48) [ English | Spanish ]
  • Retirement Ready (Fact Sheet For Workers Ages 49-60) [ English | Spanish ]
  • Retirement Ready (Fact Sheet For Workers Ages 61-69) [ English | Spanish ]
  • Retirement Ready (Fact Sheet For Workers Ages 70 and Up) [ English | Spanish ]

More items...

What you should know about taxes and Social Security benefits?

  • $29,393 Taxable Social Security
  • $21,255 IRA Withdrawal
  • $50,000 pension

How do you calculate Social Security benefits?

  • Take your AIME and round down to the nearest dollar
  • Multiply the first $895 of your AIME by 90%
  • Multiply the amount in step 2 that is over $895, or less than or equal to $5,397, by 32%
  • Multiple the amount in step 3 over $5,397 by 15%
  • Add all totals from step 2-4 and round down to the nearest dollar. ...
  • Multiply the amount in step 5 by 73.33%. ...

How can you maximize your Social Security benefits?

Use these 6 strategies to increase your household's lifetime benefits

  1. Don’t Take the SSA’s Advice at Face Value. Going straight to the source seems like a great way to get accurate information about the best time to file for ...
  2. Withdraw Your Social Security Application. Here’s one opportunity to reverse a claiming decision you regret. ...
  3. Suspend Your Social Security Benefits. ...
  4. Maximize Your Household Benefits. ...

More items...

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How can I check my Social Security benefits?

If you have questions or need help understanding how to check the status of your Social Security application online, call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your Social Security office.

How much will I get from Social Security when I retire?

Your retirement benefit is based on how much you've earned over your lifetime at jobs for which you paid Social Security taxes. Your monthly retirement benefit is based on your highest 35 years of salary history. You can get your earnings history from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

How much Social Security will I get if I make $60000 a year?

That adds up to $2,096.48 as a monthly benefit if you retire at full retirement age. Put another way, Social Security will replace about 42% of your past $60,000 salary. That's a lot better than the roughly 26% figure for those making $120,000 per year.

How much Social Security will I get if I make $40000 a year?

Those who make $40,000 pay taxes on all of their income into the Social Security system. It takes more than three times that amount to max out your Social Security payroll taxes. The current tax rate is 6.2%, so you can expect to see $2,480 go directly from your paycheck toward Social Security.

Benefit Calculators

The best way to start planning for your future is by creating a my Social Security account online. With my Social Security, you can verify your earnings, get your Social Security Statement, and much more – all from the comfort of your home or office.

Online Benefits Calculator

These tools can be accurate but require access to your official earnings record in our database. The simplest way to do that is by creating or logging in to your my Social Security account. The other way is to answer a series of questions to prove your identity.

Additional Online Tools

Find your full retirement age and learn how your monthly benefits may be reduced if you retire before your full retirement age.

How to figure out my Social Security benefits?

There are four ways to figure out your Social Security benefits: visit a Social Security office to get an estimate; create an account at the official Social Security website and use its calculators; let the SSA calculate your benefits for you; or calculate your benefits yourself. Doing the calculations for yourself involves understanding what AIME, ...

What is the NAWI adjustment factor for Social Security?

To be conservative, use a NAWI adjustment factor of 1.0 in column B for all future years.

How to increase PIA?

There are four ways the starting benefit can be permanently increased or reduced from the PIA calculated at age 62: 1 Starting benefits early – Benefits may begin as soon as age 62, but they are permanently reduced for every month between the onset of benefits and FRA. 18 2 Delaying benefits beyond full retirement age – Delayed retirement credits can permanently increase benefits, and they are awarded for every month between FRA and a later onset of benefits. 20 3 Starting early and continuing to work – If you start benefits before your FRA and keep working, the SSA may deduct the part of your benefits that exceeds a threshold. However, any such deductions are not permanent. When you reach your FRA, the SSA recalculates your benefits and credits back any deductions. 21 4 Continuing to work, period – Even if you don’t start benefits early, you can increase your benefits by continuing to work up to any age. Any year in which your indexed earnings are higher than one of your 35 previous highest years will boost your benefits. 22 However, after age 60 you will not receive wage indexing, and after age 62 you will not receive bend point inflation indexing.

Is Social Security progressive?

Social Security is designed as a “progressive” social insurance system, which means it replaces a greater part of average monthly pay for low-income workers than it does for high-income workers. The bend points implement this skew relative to each worker’s AIME. 13 .

Is Social Security open by appointment?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Social Security offices are only open by appointment, and to get an appointment you need to be in a “dire need situation.” 6  Most people will have to transact their business online, by phone, or through the mail.

Can you wait until you start receiving Social Security benefits?

You can wait until you decide to start receiving benefits and let the SSA calculate the amount for you. However, this doesn’t help you plan ahead, and while the SSA can usually be counted on to determine benefits accurately, mistakes can be made. 5 .

How is Social Security decided?

Your Social Security benefit is decided based on your lifetime earnings and the age you retire and begin taking payments. Your lifetime earnings are converted to a monthly average based on the 35 years in which you earned the most, adjusted for inflation. Those earnings are converted to a monthly insurance payment based on your full retirement age.

What is the formula for Social Security benefits?

The Social Security benefits formula is designed to replace a higher proportion of income for low-income earners than for high-income earners. To do this, the formula has what are called “bend points." These bend points are adjusted for inflation each year.

What is wage indexing?

Social Security uses a process called wage indexing to determine how to adjust your earnings history for inflation. Each year, Social Security publishes the national average wages for the year. You can see this published list on the National Average Wage Index page. 3 .

What age do you get FRA?

This is the amount you will get if you start benefits at your Full Retirement Age (FRA). Your FRA can vary depending on the year you were born. For people born between 1943 and 1954, as in our example, the FRA is age 66. For people born on Jan. 1, the FRA is based on the year prior.

Is Social Security higher at age 70?

If you have already had most of your 35 years of earnings, and you are near 62 today, the age 70 benefit amount you see on your Social Security statement will likely be higher due to these cost of living adjustments .

Can you calculate inflation rate at 60?

Until you know the average wages for the year you turn 60, there is no way to do an exact calculation. However, you could attribute an assumed inflation rate to average wages to estimate the average wages going forward and use those to create an estimate.

What are the benefits of Social Security?

There are four main types of benefits that the SSA offers: Retirement benefits. Disability benefits. Benefits for spouses or other survivors of a family member who's passed.

How does Social Security work?

Social Security is a program run by the federal government. The program works by using taxes paid into a trust fund to provide benefits to people who are eligible. You’ll need a Social Security number when you apply for a job. Find how to apply for a Social Security number or to replace your Social Security card .

How long does a disability last?

You’re unable to do substantial gainful activity (work) Your disability is expected to last for at least one year or result in death. Your impairment is on Social Security’s list of disabling medical conditions. Social Security uses a step-by-step process to decide if you have a disability.

How old do you have to be to get Social Security?

Estimate your benefits at each age, from 62 (the earliest you can receive them) to 70 (when you hit your greatest amount) Apply for retirement benefits. Learn about earning limits if you plan to work while receiving Social Security benefits.

How long does it take to get a birth certificate from Social Security?

Processing times average about two weeks. See SSA’s frequently asked questions for an estimate for your state.

How do I apply for SSI?

How to Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Adults can apply for SSI by phone, in person at a local Social Security office, or in some cases online. To apply for SSI for a child, you can start the process online but will need to complete it either in person or by phone. You can appeal If your application is denied.

What does Social Security provide?

Social Security provides you with a source of income when you retire or if you can’t work due to a disability. It can also support your legal dependents (spouse, children, or parents) with benefits in the event of your death.

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