Whether you’re currently joining the 71.6 million qualifying Americans who are currently receiving Social Security benefits, or will be among them in the future, you may want to start estimating how much you’ll receive each month. Having this steady source of income during retirement can provide you with some relief, knowing you’ll have money coming in to help pay expenses.
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However, there are several reasons why you may be surprised (or even disappointed) that your Social Security payments are smaller than you expected.
How much you earn throughout your working years plays a huge role in how much you’ll receive in Social Security benefits. That’s because a portion of the tax typically goes towards Social Security. The less you pay, the less you’ll receive in benefits.
You can claim Social Security benefits as early as age 62 and still work, but it could cost you if you earn over the income threshold set by the Social Security Administration. As of 2025, if you earn over $23,400, $1 of your paycheck will be deducted for every $2 you earn over that amount.
If you’ve reached full retirement age (typically 67 years old), the income threshold goes up to $62,160. Then, your paycheck will be $1 less for every additional $3 you earn.
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Although you can claim Social Security benefits starting at age 62, your monthly paychecks will be smaller by a certain percentage. For example, if you were born after 1960, your benefit could be 30% lower than if you were to claim benefits starting at age 67, your full retirement age.
For example, if you expected to receive $2,500 in monthly benefits, your paycheck could go down to $1,750 per month, a $800 a month difference.
Some may opt to delay taking their benefits until age 70, when the monthly paychecks could be higher. You’ll receive 8% added to your initial benefit amount each full year you delay taking Social Security benefits.
Say you decide to start taking Social Security checks at age 68. Using the previous example, your paycheck could go up to $2,700 each month, or an additional $200.
The Social Security Administration calculates the amount you’ll receive based on your highest 35 years of earnings. It will average your earnings and use a complex formula to come up with your payments at your full retirement age.
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