Insight

Social security – to delay or not to delay?

Social security – to delay or not to delay?

“What is the best age to start drawing social security benefits?” is one of the most frequent planning questions our clients ask. 

To make the most of your social security income, you need a thorough understanding of the rules, and an integrated strategy that fits your unique circumstances.

So, let’s start with the basics:

Know the rules

  • The earliest you can draw social security is age 62 (unless you are a widow, and then you can draw as early as age 60). For each year you delay drawing up until age 70, your benefit will increase by about 8%. Full retirement age (FRA) is generally between age 66 and 67, depending on your birth year, and waiting until you reach FRA means that you will receive 100% of your earned benefits. If you can wait longer than FRA, your benefits will continue to increase by roughly 8% each additional year until you reach age 70 when benefits are capped. Age 70 is also the latest you can elect to start drawing.
  • A married couple can utilize a spousal benefit strategy. This is when one spouse can draw up to 50% of the other spouse’s FRA benefit. This is typically utilized when there is a large difference in how much each spouse has earned during their lifetime. If the higher earning spouse draws early this will permanently reduce what the other spouse can receive. It should also be noted that a spouse will receive a reduction in their spousal benefit if they draw before their FRA.

Understand your expenses

  • For some, social security will represent a significant portion of retirement income. Others may have additional sources of income, such as pension plans, investment income, or annuities. In either case, understanding how much income you need to support your lifestyle will play a key role in making the appropriate social security decision.

Think about longevity

  • Social security is one of the few income sources that is guaranteed for life. Social security also typically gets a Cost of Living Adjustment each year determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As people are living longer, having an adjusted lifetime income will become an even more valuable component of your planning strategy.
  • For those with longer life expectancies, it is typically recommended that you wait until you reach FRA to maximize the benefits you will receive.
  • For those with health concerns or a shorter life expectancy, drawing early may be the right choice.
  • Planning for the longevity of both spouses is important when using a spousal benefit. When one spouse’s benefit is higher than the other’s, the longer a spouse can wait to draw will impact not only the amount of their own benefit, but the benefit of the surviving spouse as well.

Determining when to begin drawing social security income depends on many factors, including how long you can comfortably wait, what your cash flow needs are and whether a spouse’s needs will be part of the equation. But when you have a comprehensive understanding of both the social security election framework and what role it will play in your particular financial situation, your decision will be a lot easier to make.

If you have any questions about how to integrate social security benefits into your retirement planning, feel free to contact us.


Ready to Simplify Your Wealth?

Disclaimer

About the Author

Ali Swart, CFP® is the Managing Director of the Wealth Planning Department, where she develops and implements comprehensive, goal-based wealth planning strategies for Waldron's clients.

More about Ali

Connect on LinkedIn


Simplify Your Wealth

We believe the most successful wealth strategies are achieved through the collaboration of a team of individuals. Learn how our integrated, coordinated approach can simplify your wealth.

Insights to your inbox.

Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive insights into simplifying your wealth.