June 7, 2012
Last year the Social Security Administration (SSA) stopped mailing statements to taxpayers to reduce their costs (by about $70 million). Earlier this year they resumed mailing to people 60 or older who have not yet started drawing social security. Now they have launched a new online version of your social security statement, available at www.ssa.gov.
If you are doing any retirement planning this SSA tool will provide useful information. The tool will show your estimated benefit amount at early retirement age (62), full retirement age (typically 66-67) and if you wait until 70. The estimates are based on your current earnings rate. You are also provided with a history of your prior years' earnings. Since benefits are based on your 35 highest earning years, it would be wise to verify that yours have been posted accurately in Social Security's database. This tool will also show estimates for disability and survivor benefits, including the amount your spouse and children would receive if you pass away.
If you have not started your retirement planning, now would be a great time to start.
(This article contains the current opinions of the author but not necessarily those of Brighton Securities Corp. The author's opinions are subject to change without notice. This blog post is for informational purposes only. Forecasts, estimates, and certain information contained herein should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. References to specific securities and their issuers are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended and should not be interpreted as recommendations to purchase or sell such securities).
IRSCIRCULAR 230 NOTICE:
As required by U.S. Treasury Regulations, please be advised that any written tax advice contained in this communication was not written or intended to be used (and cannot be used) by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.