Retirement

Social Security Expert Faye Sykes on the Air with Radio Host Dana Barrett

Faye Sykes, CEO of Social Security Benefit Planners joined us in studio during hour one of today’s show! Faye explained the right time to take social security and how she and her company is able to help families maximize their social security benefits.

During hour two, Jackie Cannizzo, Executive Director of JCI Foundation joined us to dish on two upcoming events you don’t want to miss! The JCI Foundation will host the Judson Women’s Leadership Conference on June 20th at the Cobb Galleria; a great opportunity for women to learn and be inspired by successful leaders from all walks of life.

The Birth of Social Security in America

How do I collect Social Security?

We take Social Security for granted, but where did this important insurance program come from and when did it start? It hasn’t been around forever, has it? The answer is no. Social Security began after the Great Depression, when millions of Americans who had lost their savings were facing an old age defined by stark poverty. Few workers had pensions through their jobs, and President Franklin Roosevelt wanted to do something to alleviate the poverty that faced so many older workers in their retirement years.

Since its creation in 1935, millions of retirees have been able to live more comfortably because of this national insurance program, which they collectively funded through payroll taxes during their working years you will see this as FICA on your payroll statement. Though Social Security wasn’t meant to be the only source of income for beneficiaries, it was in its early years and, unfortunately, it still is today for many. As per Social Security fact sheet in 2017 21% of married couples and 43% of unmarried persons rely on Social Security for 90% or more of their income. Many people do not realize that this is a program that has a life insurance, disability and retirement income benefits that you and your family can benefit from.

With changing demographics that include more retirees and fewer workers, Social Security has had to evolve over the years. President Reagan signed into law several revisions to Social Security after Congress passed suggestions made by the Greenspan Commission, which had reviewed the program’s financial picture. These changes included an increase in the payroll tax that pays for benefits as well as a gradual increase in the retirement age, from 65 to 67.

In the future, it’s likely that more changes will have to be made to keep the program financially sound. The prospect can sound alarming, but making necessary tweaks to keep a valuable program that provides millions of Americans with the basic income they need is well worth the effort. Long live Social Security!

For a full customized projection of your Social Security income please sign up for a plan option or learn more at www.socialsecuritybp.com.

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

Broke as a Joke? Social Security’s Finances

What is the future of Social Security?

Is Social Security broke? Reading the news can sometimes leave you with the impression that Social Security is practically out of money. This massive program provides key income and takes in millions of dollars each year, but is it going belly-up?

Here’s how it works. The payroll taxes that you and everyone else pay each month (FICA and Medicare) go to the treasury, where they are counted as credits to the Social Security Trust Fund. Those who receive Social Security benefits get their money from what’s paid in, but there is some left over. The excess is invested in special issue U.S. Treasury bonds, which earn interest. The interest is credited to the trust fund, as well.

Right now, more money comes into the program through taxes and interest than goes out in benefit payments. Years of this excess pay-in has created a surplus that amounted to $2.7 trillion by 2014’s close. That figure will continue to increase until 2019, when the surplus is expected to reach $2.8 trillion.

But as the Baby Boomers retire and smaller birth cohorts begin to fill the ranks of the workers whose taxes fund Social Security, there will be more money going out in the form of benefits than there is coming in through payroll withholding taxes. At that point, the treasury bonds that the Social Security Trust Fund owns will be needed to help cover the benefits that beneficiaries receive.

The program is expected to fully utilize its surplus in 2034, which will leave payroll taxes as the only source with which to make benefit payments. According to current projections, those taxes will cover approximately 79% of the anticipated amount needed. Congress will have to decide whether to cut benefits or increase funding, which they could easily do by raising the limit on the amount of income to which FICA and Medicare taxes apply.

Social Security isn’t exactly going broke, but it will need to be tweaked in order to provide the benefits that today’s workers have been promised when they retire. Do you have an opinion on how to handle the future shortfall in the program’s budget? Let your senators and representatives know!

To receive your own customized Social Security benefit projections please visit our website www.socialsecuritybp.com to learn more or sign up for a plan.

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

Social Security Is a Lifesaver for Many Women

How do Women collect Social Security?

Social Security a Women Lifesaver

Social Security is a retirement, disability and life insurance program and if you’re a Woman, this can be a lifesaver in retirement. It’s not that women are more interested in a financially secure old age than men. Americans of both sexes rely on Social Security for critical support in their retirement years, but for a variety of reasons, it’s often women who depend on it the most.

  • Longer lives – Women, on average, live longer than men. Without sufficient private retirement savings, this longevity can result in Social Security being the sole or majority source of income. The potential of running out of retirement savings is a problem that affects many retirees, but because of their longer life expectancy, more women end up counting on Social Security alone to support them.
  • Smaller paychecks – Sadly women on average don’t earn as much as men. They often work in fields that are lower-paid than those where men predominate, and even in the same job women frequently earn less than a man does in the same position. Fair? Maybe not, but it’s a fact. That makes it harder to save for retirement and reduces pension benefits, where they exist. As a result, Social Security often forms a greater part of women’s retirement income than men’s.
  • Fewer working years – Between raising children and caring for aging parents, women often take years out of their careers that men do not. While some men do choose to stay home with children or serve as caregivers for parents, it is far more likely that a woman will do so, statistically speaking. Since the formula that determines Social Security benefits is biased toward lower-earning workers, women get some protection from the hit they would otherwise take from a shorter work history.
  • Less other retirement income – Men are more likely than women to have pensions through their jobs, and to have larger pensions than the women who do qualify (partly because of women’s shorter work histories and lower wages). Without this additional income in retirement, women tend to be more dependent on the benefits they receive from Social Security than men are.

Social Security shouldn’t be your only plan for retirement income, but whether or not it is supplemented by private savings, if you’re a woman, it’s a critical component. Having a plan with your spouse before taking benefits can make a huge difference in how much money is available in retirement. Sign up today to have your own customized Social Security plan www.socialsecuritybp.com or info@socialsecuritybp.com.

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

Social Security Benefits for Children

Social Security for Children

You would be surprised to know that according to the Social Security Administration, there are approximately 4.4 million children who receive $2.5 billion in aid each month.

Children of disabled, retired or deceased parents may receive Social Security benefits, which are intended to help families provide for their children through high school. When a parent dies or becomes disabled, Social Security is given to help the family meet the financial needs of the family. The law also protects unmarried and dependent grandchildren who were being cared for by the deceased, disabled, or elderly.

What children qualify for Social Security? It makes no difference whether your child is adopted, biological, or dependent step children, they maybe eligible if they meet certain requirements.

  • Has a parent(s) who is disabled or retired and eligible for Social Security benefits.
  • Is unmarried.
  • Is younger than 18 years old or up to age 19 if he or she is a full time high school student.
  • Is 18 years or older and disabled (as long as the disability began before the individual turned age 22).

 

How to Receive Benefits

First, the family must present the child’s birth certificate, the parents’ Social Security number and the child’s Social Security number. There may be additional documents required as well. Depending upon the circumstances, the applicant must provide a parent’s death certificate and/or evidence of disability from a doctor.

If your child is disabled, the Social Security Administration has a fact sheet and starter packet to help you navigate the process of receiving benefits. This information will guide you along the path to sign up for and obtain benefits and includes a frequently asked questions section as well.

If you are taking care of a child and are receiving benefits, then his or her benefits may stop at a different time than your own. For example, if the child is not disabled, then the caretaker’s benefits will terminate when the child turns 16 years old. If the child is disabled and you have responsibility and control of the child, then your benefits may continue. For these types of specific circumstances, it’s best to contact the Social Security Administration.

The Social Security benefit for children is an important government tool to help keep families — especially the youngest of the bunch — solvent during times of death and disability. Be sure to check in with the Social Security Benefit Planners in evaluating your own case.

Redo for Social Security Retirement Benefits

Did you sign up early to start receiving Social Security benefits? If you’ve only recently begun to take benefits, you can still change your mind. For the first twelve months that you’re receiving Social Security income, you have the option to reset this to a later date and increase your payments.

During the initial year, you can halt your monthly payments and delay benefits to get further increases with age 70 being the maxed benefit. This flexibility comes at a cost though; you’ll have to pay back any amount you have already received. For some people, doing so is worth it, if you took benefits at age 62 this is up to a 30% reduction in benefits for the rest of your life. Each year you delay between ages 62 and 70 gives you a nice increase. If you’re the breadwinner in your family ideally you should wait as long as possible as a survivor spouse only gets the higher of the two.  

It isn’t just the currently calculated benefits that will be affected, either. Since Social Security cost of living increases (COLA) are figured as a percentage of your current benefits, delaying until full retirement age or longer means that each year you receive benefits you’ll have a higher amount from which to calculate annual COLA increases.

Unless you really need Social Security income as soon as you are eligible, it’s usually best to wait until your full retirement age or when it maxes out at age 70. One of our Social Security retirement advisors can help you find the best time to take benefits, or help you halt benefits now to increase your retirement income later. www.socialsecuritybp.com to read more, info@socialsecuritybp.com or call 877-270-SSBP (7727)

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

Social Security & Your Full Retirement Age: Are you leaving retirement money on the table?

The Social Security term “full retirement age” or FRA is unfamiliar to many people, but it shouldn’t be. Your birth year is one of two factors in determining your Social Security retirement income. Your full retirement age (FRA) is the point at which you can begin taking Social Security retirement benefits at the full amount based on your individual work history. The second factor is how much you paid into the Social Security insurance program which is shown as a FICA deduction. If you have not pulled your statement recently you can go to www.ssa.gov to review your personal history.

Although you can elect to take benefits as early as age 62, that’s rarely a good idea. Taking benefits before your FRA will cost you big-time – as much as 30% of your monthly benefits! So, what is your full retirement age? That depends on when you were born. Congress has gradually raised the FRA, meaning that it is different for different birth cohorts. There are some nice increases in your Social Security retirement checks by delaying your start date with age 70 being when your benefits max out.

For those born in 1954 or earlier, the FRA is 66 years. You can start collecting full benefits as soon as your 66th birthday. Those born later will have to wait a bit longer before taking retirement benefits to receive the full amount:

Birth Year                                                                                     Full Retirement Age
1943-1954                                                                                   66
1955                                                                                            66 years and 2 months
1956                                                                                            66 years and 4 months
1957                                                                                            66 years and 6 months
1958                                                                                            66 years and 8 months
1959                                                                                            66 years and 10 months
1960 or later                                                                                67 years

Almost 50% of American’s elect to take Social Security at age 62! Don’t risk losing almost a third of valuable retirement income but not understanding the true cost of taking this early.

Sign up today to have one of our Social Security retirement advisors www.socialsecuritybp.com help you understand when is the best time to start taking benefits.

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

Social Security Expert Faye Sykes on the Air with Radio Host Eric Holtzclaw

Planning today for tomorrow. Social Security expert Faye Sykes, NSSA, CLTC, National Social Security Advisor and CEO of Social Security Benefit Planners joined radio show host Eric V. Holtzclaw on Build Your Best Business to highlight steps all entrepreneurs can take to protect their retirement income.

Faye shares what inspired her to enter into this niche market and add on to her current services to help both new and existing clients and expand her business. LISTEN NOW!

 

 

Social Security Expert Faye Sykes on the Air with Ryan Poterack

Planning today for tomorrow. Social Security expert Faye Sykes, NSSA, CLTC, National Social Security Advisor and CEO of Social Security Benefit Planners joined radio show host Ryan Poterack with expert advice on Social Security planning. LISTEN NOW!

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

Social Security Myth #6: No more Social Security?

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?

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

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.

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!

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

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

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.