Retirement Read Time: 8 min

Social Security: Five Facts You Need to Know

Social Security can be complicated, and as a result, many individuals don't have a full understanding of the choices they may have. Here are five facts about Social Security that are important to keep in mind.

1. Social Security Is a Critical Source of Retirement Income

有些人认为社会保障在退休生活中是次要的,甚至是第三重要的. But according to a recent report by the Employee Benefits Research Institute, Social Security represents a major source of income for 67% of retirees.1

请记住,社会保障部根据消费者价格指数进行年度生活成本调整(cola), and under current laws, pays income for life and the life of your spouse.2

2. You Can Choose When You Take Social Security

You have considerable flexibility regarding when you can begin receiving your benefits. You may begin receiving benefits as early as age 62; however, 在达到完全退休年龄之前,你开始领取社会保障的每个月,你的福利将以0.5%的速度减少.3

The full retirement age is 67 if you were born in 1960 or later. If you were born before 1960, your retirement age will be reduced depending on the year in which you were born.

You may choose to delay receiving benefits until after reaching your full retirement age; in which case, your benefits are scheduled to increase by 8% annually. 根据现行法律,从你达到完全退休年龄的那一刻起,这种增加将每月自动增加,直到你开始享受福利或达到70岁——在这个年龄,这些延迟退休抵免不再累积. Plus, 在此期间,你的福利也会因生活费用调整而增加.4

如果你打算继续工作,你仍然可以获得你符合资格的全额福利. Indeed, working beyond full retirement age can increase your benefits. However, your benefits will be reduced if your earnings exceed certain limits. If you work and start receiving benefits before full retirement age, 你的收入每超过现行的年度限额(22美元)2美元,你的福利就会减少1美元,320 in 2024).5

If you continue to work during the year in which you attain full retirement age, 超过不同的年度限额(59美元),每3美元的收入将减少1美元的福利,520 in 2024) until the month you reach full retirement age.5

Once you have attained full retirement age, you can keep working, and your benefits under current law will not be reduced regardless of how much you earn.5

As you can see, the decision of when to begin taking Social Security is a critical one.

3. Social Security May Be Taxable

Depending on your income level, your Social Security benefit may be subject to taxation. 下面的图表说明了你的综合收入(调整后的总收入+你的非应税利息+你的一半社会保障福利)如何影响你的社会保障退休福利是否需要纳税.6

Will Your Social Security Benefits Be Subject to Federal Income Taxes?

 

50% of Benefit

Subject to Taxation          

85% of Benefit

Subject to Taxation

Individual Filers         

Combined Income of

$25,000 to $34,000

Combined Income

Greater than $34,000

Joint Filers

Combined Income of

$32,000 to $44,000

Combined Income

Greater than $44,000

这种潜在的所得税风险可能会对你是否选择在退休后工作产生重大影响, how your assets are invested, and the timing of withdrawals from other retirement accounts.7,8

For instance, 从传统的个人退休账户中提款可能会使你的收入超过上述阈值, subjecting a higher proportion of your Social Security to income tax.7,8

The same is true of investment earnings in non-retirement savings. 如果退休人员的AG捕鱼王新版app下载收入超过了他们目前的消费需求,他们的社会保障收入可能会被征税. 将这些资产的一部分转移到递延税收工具可能是管理社会保障福利税收的一种方法.9

4. Social Security Can Be a Family Benefit

当你开始领取社会保障时,其他家庭成员也可能有资格领取. 配偶(即使他们没有劳动收入)如果年龄在62岁或以上,或者任何年龄,如果他们照顾你的孩子,都有资格享受福利. (The child must be younger than 16 or disabled.)

Benefits may also be paid to your unmarried children if they are younger than 18, between 18 and 19 and enrolled in a secondary school as a full-time student, or age 18 or older and severely disabled.

每个家庭成员都可能有资格获得每月高达退休(或残疾)福利金额的一半的福利. There is a family limit, which varies, but is generally between 150% to 180% of your retirement (or disability) benefit.10

Should you die, your family may be eligible for benefits based on your work record.10

Family members who qualify for benefits include:

  • A widow or widower
    • age 60 or older;
    • age 50 and older if disabled; or
    • 任何年龄,如果他们照顾你16岁以下的孩子或残疾的孩子,并且在你的记录上有权享受社会保障福利.
  • Unmarried children can receive benefits if they are:
    • under 18 years of age;
    • between 18 and 19 and are full-time students in a secondary school; or
    • age 18 or older and severely disabled (the disability must have started before age 22).

你的遗属可以获得一定比例的基本社会保障福利——通常每个成员的比例在75%到100%之间. However, the limit paid to each family is about 150% to 180% of your benefit rate.10

5. A Divorced Spouse May Be Eligible for Benefits

If you are divorced, you may qualify for Social Security benefits based on your ex-spouse's work record. To be eligible for benefits, 你的前配偶必须达到有资格开始领取福利金的年龄(尽管他们不一定需要领取福利金).10

To qualify, you need to:

  • have been married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years;
  • have been divorced for two years or longer;
  • be at least 62 years old;
  • be unmarried; and
  • not be entitled to a higher Social Security benefit based on your own work history.

If your former spouse is deceased, 你仍然可以作为未亡的离婚配偶获得福利(不管他们去世的年龄), assuming that your ex-spouse was entitled to Social Security benefits, your marriage was at least 10 years, you are at least 60 years old, and you are not entitled to a higher benefit amount based on your own work history. If you remarry before the age of 60, you will lose the ability to receive a survivor benefit from your deceased ex-spouse.10

If your former spouse is living, 你有资格领取的最高金额是你的前配偶在完全退休年龄时应得金额的50%. To receive the maximum benefit, you will need to wait until you have reached your own full retirement age.10

如果你的前配偶在达到完全退休年龄之前选择领取社会保障,或者你的前配偶组建了一个新的家庭,你的福利不会受到影响.10

1. EBRI.org, 2023
2. SSA.gov, 2023
3. SSA.gov, 2023
4. SSA.gov, 2023
5. SSA.gov, 2023
6. SSA.gov, 2023
7. In most circumstances, once you reach age 73, 您必须开始从传统个人退休帐户(IRA)中提取所需的最低分配额。. 只要您符合劳动收入要求,您可以在70岁半以后继续向传统IRA提供免税捐款.
8. 一旦你到了73岁,在大多数情况下,你必须开始从传统的个人退休账户中提取最低要求的分配. Withdrawals from Traditional IRAs are taxed as ordinary income and, if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.
9. 年金合同的担保取决于发行公司的赔付能力. Annuities have contract limitations, fees, and charges, including account and administrative fees, underlying investment management fees, mortality and expense fees, and charges for optional benefits. 大多数年金都有退保费,如果你在年金合同的最初几年取出钱,通常是最高的. Withdrawals and income payments are taxed as ordinary income. If a withdrawal is made prior to age 59½, a 10% federal income tax penalty may apply (unless an exception applies).
10. SSA.gov, 2023

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. 有关您个人情况的具体信息,请咨询法律或税务专业人士. 本材料由FMG Suite开发和制作,旨在提供有关您可能感兴趣的主题的信息. FMG Suite is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright FMG Suite.

 

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