In 2004, Social Security benefits were projected to account for 40% of a baby boomer’s post-retirement family income, and almost all baby boomer retirees were expected to receive benefits, according to a Social Security Administration study. But Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, thinks those projections were conservative. Today, according to Baker, Social Security payments account for 90% of income for one-third of all seniors and more than 50% for two-thirds of them. For unmarried seniors, the dependence upon Social Security is even greater, accounting for almost three-quarters of their income.
As pensions become increasingly rare – replaced by defined contribution plans, which are subject to the volatility of financial markets – the importance of Social Security continues to grow. In fact, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association claims that Social Security is now the “most prevalent and important single source of income for retirees.”
Social Security Monthly Dollar Retirement Benefits
Generally speaking, the amount of Social Security you receive is based upon your total lifetime earnings that were subject to Social Security taxes – as of 2014, maximum taxable earnings stand at $117,000 per year. In other words, the more money you make over an extended period, the more you receive when you begin withdrawing.
The specific dollar benefit paid to a beneficiary is the result of an SSA calculation, based upon that person’s top 35 years of earnings, adjusted for inflation. It is further affected by the age at which you begin receiving benefits. In 2014, according to the Social Security Administration, the maximum payment for an individual who begins claiming at full retirement age is $2,642 per month.
For help estimating your future benefits – as well as verifying your earnings each year – the SSA provides a useful online resource. Many of the criteria that determine the amount you receive, however, are actually within your control.
Social Security Age Withdrawal Options
There are several options for when you can start withdrawing your Social Security benefits.
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