By Mike Festa, AARP Massachusetts State Director
Social Security is your money — you earned it through a lifetime of hard work. And like most Americans, that money is needed to help cover living expenses and pay bills. Nearly one in five Massachusetts residents – 1.29 million people – receive Social Security benefits, and 38% percent of residents 65 and older rely on the program for at least half of their income.
Here are 5 things to know about Social Security:
- When can I start collecting Social Security?
You are eligible to receive Social Security as early as age 62. However, the longer you wait to start collecting after you become eligible (up until age 70), the larger your annual payments will be. For those who are eligible for survivor benefits or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you can start collecting earlier.
- Can I collect Social Security while working?
Yes, you can collect payments while working. In fact, 26% of Social Security recipients in 2023 are still working. But if you are below full retirement age (67) and earn more than a certain amount, your monthly payments will be temporarily reduced. Once you reach full retirement age, your payments will be increased to make up for any previous reduction in benefits caused by earning more than the limit.
- How much will I receive each year from Social Security?
Your Social Security income will be dependent on multiple factors, but the most important is your lifetime earnings from work. The Social Security Administration takes your 35 highest-earnings years, calculates an inflation-adjusted average, and plugs this information into a formula to find your “basic” benefit. How old you are when you claim Social Security will also impact the amount you receive.
AARP’s Social Security Calculator can help you estimate how much you will receive.
- What is the maximum Social Security payment I can receive each month?
In 2023, the highest monthly payment for Social Security is $3,627; however, the average retirement benefit is $1,833. To receive the maximum payment, your earnings must exceed the maximum taxable income for at least 35 working years, and you must be at full retirement age, which is age 67 for people born in 1960 or later.
- How do I sign up for Social Security?
You can apply for retirement, spousal, or disability benefits online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or in person at your local Social Security office. Find the local office closest to you at ssa.gov/locator.
AARP knows that you work hard and pay into Social Security, so it’s only fair for you to expect to get the money you’ve earned. Social Security is your money, it shouldn’t be a piggy bank for politicians. If they don’t take action to protect and save Social Security in the next 10 years, your Social Security could be cut by 20 percent – an average of $4,000 a year. Questions about your Social Security? Go to aarp.org/YouEarnedIt to learn more.
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