Social Security Myth #6: No more Social Security?

Posted on March 21, 2017 by - Family Benefits, Social Security Myths

MYTH: Social Security will go broke in the next 20 years.

That’s a scary statement, and it gets tossed around frequently. Should you worry about it? Not really. Social Security is essentially a pay-as-you-go system. The workers today are paying through their FICA taxes for the benefits current retirees are receiving.

In 2017, if you are W-2 employee you pay 7.65% of your income into the program and your employer pays an equivalent amount. Self-employed workers are required to pay the full amount of 15.3% (but they may be able to deduct some of the expense when they file their annual tax returns).

Any surplus money currently goes into a trust fund and is invested into treasury bonds. By 2034 the trust is projected to run out of money, and this is the source of the scary “going broke” concept. Even if the projection is accurate, however this doesn’t mean that benefits will stop all together. The payroll taxes alone from those working in 2034 should still cover about 79% of promised benefits.

But it’s true that in this scenario there would not be enough money for the program to continue exactly as it is. Congress will need to act by raising taxes, cutting Social Security benefits or both. We should expect a solution to be hammered out long before 2034. Though either of these options would be hard choices that will no doubt inspire real debate, the risk to millions of Social Security beneficiaries that vote will hopefully get politicians of all persuasions to act in plenty of time to prevent the program from facing a true crisis.

Not associated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency.

Are You Part of the Sandwich Generation?

Posted on March 9, 2017 by - Retirement Benefits, Retirement fears, Social Security Benefits, Uncategorized

Many Americans today are part of what is known as the sandwich generation. No, that doesn’t mean covered in peanut butter or surrounded by lettuce and tomatoes. It refers to being economically sandwiched by two other generations, one older and one younger, that rely on you for financial support.

Providing emotional support for parents and children is part and parcel of being human. It’s both demanding and rewarding, but also creates some fear for the future. Providing financial support for these loved ones while taking care of yourself and your own future, however, can be tough. For many, it seems like an inescapable burden, and fulfilling it can leave you unable to provide sufficient resources to meet your own needs.

If you’re still funding your adult kids’ lifestyles and struggling to take good care of your parents’ financial needs at the same time, you might want to consider whether it’s the best strategy. Despite the desire to provide everything you can for your family, this financial sandwich can leave you in a bad situation a few years down the road.

  • Your kids have their whole life to pay back college and other debts. It feels good to provide your children with a debt-free college education and help with a car, house or other steps toward the good life. But can you afford it? Ignoring your financial future so you can give them the best start isn’t in anyone’s best interest. If you can’t support yourself in retirement, they’ll feel duty-bound to help. It’s often better to let them take out loans to accomplish their goals, while you save for your retirement years. That leaves you better prepared to take care of your own future needs while helping them realize the true costs of their choices and value them appropriately.
  • Learn from your parents and save more toward retirement. The financial sandwich you’re in now should illustrate the importance of saving for retirement. It’s more expensive than most people expect, between rising healthcare costs, inflation and longer lifespans. You’re seeing that first-hand with your parents; learn the lessons that their predicament illustrates and get serious about saving now, so you won’t be in the same one later.
  • You cannot take out loans for retirement. While it’s relatively easy to get a loan for a college education, house or car, just try asking for one to pay for retirement expenses. Lenders will laugh at you! Once you’re past working age, it’s virtually impossible to get a loan unless you can prove you have the resources to pay it back. That’s not a situation that inspires confidence for older Americans who need extra income just to get by, so let the kids get a loan now. It’s far easier to obtain and pay back than the one you’ll need if you don’t save enough for your retirement.

What’s the takeaway? Giving your retirement savings short shrift so you can keep paying for the generational sandwich isn’t wise. If you don’t have enough saved, it’s helpful to do what you can to maximize your Social Security income. But in the big picture, it’s probably more important to save for your own retirement than to fully fund your children’s college and post-college years.

Not associated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency.

Social Security Myth #5: The precise amount of SS benefits

Posted on March 9, 2017 by - Social Security Myths

MYTH: The maximum Social Security benefit in 2017 is $2,687.

There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about the precise amount of Social Security benefits. That’s partly because the amount changes every year, and partly because the amount received differs based on individual work history and the age at which you claim benefits. If you work until reaching your full retirement age and paid a sufficient amount into the program to qualify for the maximum benefit, the current amount of your monthly benefit will be $2,687.

If you delay benefits beyond your retirement age, you will increase your benefit amount by 8% for each year you delay, up to age 70. There are no further increases after reaching age 70 so it doesn’t make sense to delay further. However, there is an annual cost of living increase each year. Since these yearly increases were implemented, they have averaged 2.5%.

Collecting benefits early decreases the amount of your monthly benefit – up to 30%! Not only that, but with a smaller amount in benefits, the annual increases you get will be smaller as well (because they’re a percentage of a smaller number). That’s one good reason to delay benefits at least until your full retirement age if you can. A bigger benefit means a bigger cost of living increase each year, and over time, that can mean a big difference in the amount of money you have to spend each month.

Not associated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency.

Social Security Myth #4: Only Minor Children Get Benefits When You Die.

Posted on March 7, 2017 by - Children's Benefits, Family Benefits, Social Security Myths, Widow Benefits

MYTH: Social Security only helps minor children at your death.

You probably know that Social Security can provide benefits to children, but if you’re like most people, you believe that this can only happen if you die. That’s not the way it works, though.

Social Security was set up in 1935 to protect Americans, including their
children, through a paid insurance program known as FICA. That’s what the FICA taxes that come out of your paycheck each month are paying for. This program provides financial assistance in cases of disability, at retirement and at death.

If a parent – or in some cases, a guardian grandparent – is caring for a minor child or children and is receiving retirement or disability benefits through Social Security, the children may be eligible to also receive benefits. They may qualify for benefits if their parent or guardian dies as well.

In all three situations, the biological, adopted or dependent step-children may be able to receive benefits until they turn 18 – or longer, if they haven’t finished high school. Children with disabilities can continue receiving benefits for even longer.

The amount of benefits a child can receive varies but can be up to 75% the amount the deceased parent would collect from Social Security. A family limit applies when there are multiple children surviving the parent. This “family cap” is usually between 150% and 180% of the parent’s full benefit. No matter how many children are eligible to receive benefits, the total amount cannot exceed the family limit.

In cases where one parent passes away, a non-working parent or one who earns less that $16,920 per year may also receive additional Social Security family benefits until the child reaches age 16. Again, if the child is disabled, these benefits can continue beyond that age for the adult who exercises parental control and responsibility for the disabled child.

Not associated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency.

Social Security Myth #3: Divorce Always Costs You!

Posted on February 27, 2017 by - Divorce, Social Security Myths, Spousal Benefits

MYTH: If you’re divorced, your only option is to file for Social Security based on your own work record.

Luckily for many divorcees, this isn’t the case at all. If you were married for over ten years, you can still file for benefits as if you were married.  This means that as in Myth #2, you can receive up to half the amount of your ex-spouse’s retirement benefit.

If you do not remarry and your ex precedes you in death, the Social Security Administration considers you to be widowed. As a widow or widower, you are eligible to receive the full benefit that your ex-spouse earned – just as if you had still been married at the time of his or her death.

Some divorcees worry that collecting the benefits to which they are entitled will cause resentment, either in the ex-spouse or his or her subsequent spouse (or spouses). The common assumption is that if one ex-spouse is receiving benefits, that will negatively impact the amount other current or previous spouses can receive, or even prevent them from receiving benefits at all.

There’s nothing to worry about, because everyone who can collect Social Security benefits based on a previous or current marriage to someone who is vested into the system does so independently. Even if your ex-spouse married several other people after you divorced, it doesn’t matter. If each marriage lasted over ten years, all the previous spouses – and the current one as well – will be able to collect the full amount of spousal or widower’s benefits.

If the marriage didn’t last for ten years, however, there is no benefit for an ex-spouse. Here is to your fantastic retirement!

Not associated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency.

Social Security Myth #2: You Didn’t Pay In, You Can’t Collect

Posted on February 21, 2017 by - Social Security Myths, Spousal Benefits

social security myth

MYTH: If you are married and were a non-working spouse or did not have enough work credits to qualify on your own, you are not eligible for Social Security.

It seems obvious enough. If you didn’t pay into the system, you can’t collect from it. Fortunately for many homemakers, that’s not how it works in all cases. Social Security has protections in place for spouses that raised children or otherwise didn’t pursue a career while their husbands (or wives) earned the household income.

While both spouses are living, the non-working spouse can collect up to half the amount of the working spouse’s full retirement age benefit. If widowed, the non-working spouse will receive the full Social Security benefit that the deceased spouse was receiving.

If both spouses qualify for benefits based on their individual work histories, the one with the lower benefit will receive additional Social Security income for a total benefit amount equal to one half the amount received by the higher-earning spouse.

To be eligible for Social Security, an individual must have paid into the system for at least 40 quarters, paying Social Security taxes through payroll withholdings or directly to the IRS. That means at least ten years of paid work.

Social Security reviews the last 35 years of work history to determine your benefit amount, and zero income years will take your benefits down. If you own a business and your spouse assists you in running it, make sure to pay for the work – at least $5,200 a year. This will allow your spouse to earn Social Security credits and become fully vested in the system, which means more income in retirement for both of you.

Not associated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency.

Social Security Myth #1: You Can’t Change Your Mind

Posted on February 14, 2017 by - Social Security Benefits, Social Security Myths, Spousal Benefits, Widow Benefits

social security myths

MYTH: Once you start receiving Social Security income you cannot change your mind.

Many people believe this to be true but the reality is quite different. There is a 12-month window, once you start collecting Social Security benefits, in which you can indeed change your mind.

During this grace period, you can decide to delay benefits in order to increase the amount you will eventually receive each month. You’ll have to pay back the full amount that you received in Social Security income before you can start the clock again, but in most cases it’s worth it.

Almost 50% of Americans choose to start collecting retirement benefits from Social Security at the age of 62. That locks in a permanent reduction of 25-30% over the amount they could receive if they delayed benefits until their full retirement age.

Your full retirement age varies based on the year you were born. Each year you delay benefits past retirement age will yield 8% in annual increases – up to age 70, that is. At 70 everyone has to start collecting benefits, with no increase for continued waiting.

Since the annual Social Security cost of living increase is a percentage of your previous benefit amount, delaying the time you start benefits will mean even more in retirement income once you decide to claim Social Security.

If you thought you needed to take your Social Security benefits early but things change, or you realize that you can afford to wait after all, it’s a good idea to stop the clock, repay what you’ve received and wait until your full retirement age – or age 70, if possible. After all, you’ve paid into Social Security to earn these benefits. You might as well collect as much as possible from the program.

Not associated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency.

Social Security for Dependent Parents

Posted on November 4, 2016 by - Family Benefits

Dependent Parent Social Security Benefits

Parents take care of us for so many years, and in some cases we are able to help our own parents in their retirement. But what will happen if your dependent parent outlives you?

Very few people know about an important Social Security benefit that can help your financially dependent parent should you pass away before they do. If your parent relies on you for more than half of their living expenses, they may be able to receive benefits in the event of your death. In order to take advantage of this benefit you must have earned enough credits to qualify for Social Security – that’s 40 credit hours – and your parent must:

  • Receive at least half of their support from you
  • Be at least 62 years old
  • Not have remarried since the adult child’s death
  • Not have an individual Social Security benefit that’s more than the potential benefit based on your earnings

This benefit can be an important source of support for your aged parent in the unfortunate event of your death.

If you’d like to learn more about this or other Social Security benefits that can help your family, please contact our office at info@socialsecuritybp.com, or sign up for your Social Security benefit plan today.

Social Security Benefits for Children – Is Your Family Eligible?

Posted on October 11, 2016 by - Children's Benefits, Family Benefits

Social security benefits for children

There are 4.3 million families that currently receive Social Security benefits to help support their children, but many more are eligible and don’t even know they could be getting additional income each month. Qualifying for this benefit has little to do with the children – it’s based on the parents’ status. (Disabled children may be able to collect Supplemental Security Income benefits based on their condition. They may also qualify for the benefits described in this article but the rules are slightly different.)

In a nutshell, Social Security benefits for children are designed to replace the income that is no longer provided by a parent who has retired, died or become disabled and therefore cannot work. The retired, deceased or disabled parent must have worked long enough to qualify for Social Security and the child must be unmarried and under 18 or a full-time student. Benefits end on the child’s 18th birthday, unless he or she is a full time high school student. In that case, benefits continue until graduation or two months after the child’s 19th birthday, whichever comes first.

Social Security benefits for children can be paid to a parent, step-parent, grandparent or another person who cares for the child (but the benefits may stop earlier in this case). The amount received each month depends on the specifics of the situation and the retired, deceased or disabled parent’s work history. In general, benefits are up to 50% of the full amount of a parent’s disability or retirement benefit or as much as 75% of the amount a deceased parent would have received. If other family members also receive Social Security benefits, a family cap on the amount received applies.

If you think you might qualify for Social Security income for a child in your care, contact our firm today. We’ll help you find out about any financial benefits you may be entitled to and complete the filing process so you can start receiving that income each month.

Business Owners: Stop Screwing Yourself on Social Security!

Posted on October 11, 2016 by - Business Owners

Social Security for Business Owners

Business owners typically prioritize the success of their company over other financial goals. That’s a good thing in general, but it’s important to keep a balance or you could be creating a host of long-term financial problems for yourself while you’re trying to do the right thing.

A common pattern I see with my clients is that they pay themselves as little as possible and put the vast majority of the available money back into the business. That may be good for the business but it’s not necessarily a smart move for your overall financial picture. When it’s time for retirement, problems arise:

  • Little Social Security income. By keeping the amount you pay yourself low over the years, you deprive yourself of Social Security benefits you might have been able to collect later. The amount of monthly benefit you receive is calculated based on your average earnings over a 35-year period. If you didn’t take pay yourself much, the government won’t either.
  • Minimal retirement savings. When you plough all the profits back into the company you reduce the amount available to fund your personal retirement account. That means you don’t have a substantial nest egg that’s growing to take care of you once you’re ready to hand the business over to new owners.
  • Expecting too much. Selling your business when retirement beckons may deliver a nice bundle to provide for your financial needs in the coming years. Then again, it might not. Economic conditions shift, and the type of business you own can make a huge difference in the amount you can actually sell it for.

Take care of your business, but be sure to look out for your own best interests as well. Paying yourself a fair wage and investing in assets like equities and real estate are just as important as that new equipment or extra staff member your company could use. The money you pay into Social Security and invest privately will work together to give you a higher income in retirement than you’d have otherwise.

If you’re not sure how much you should be paying yourself or investing, please contact us today and we’ll help you find the right balance. You deserve a comfortable retirement!