Social Security: By the Numbers
Social Security has been a pillar of retirement life for several decades, but how much do you really know about it? Here are a handful of facts that might surprise you:
The Social Security trust fund exceeds the gross domestic product of every country in the world except: China, the United States, India, Japan, Germany, Russia, Indonesia, and Brazil.[i]
For 61% of retirees, Social Security is a major source of income.1
Benefits are subject to federal income taxes, but it wasn’t always so. Amendments to the Social Security Act made benefits potentially taxable beginning in 1984.1
Benefits are determined by your average earnings during a lifetime of work, based on your 35 highest-earning years.1
If you receive Social Security, you no doubt welcome cost-of-living-adjustments (COLAs) to your benefits. Did you know that Social Security COLAs once required an act of Congress? That was the case before 1975, when they were finally pegged to advances in the Consumer Price Index.1
In the middle of 2018, more than 1 in 6 Americans were collecting Social Security benefits. Older Americans constitute about 80% of Social Security recipients, and their average monthly benefit in June 2018 was $1,413.[ii]
When should you begin taking Social Security? That may depend on several factors, but many people choose to claim benefits as soon as they are eligible. You can receive benefits beginning at age 62, but if you take them before reaching Social Security’s Full Retirement Age (67 for those born in 1960 or later), your monthly benefit will be fractionally reduced. You can wait until age 70 to claim your maximum potential benefit.
There are many factors to consider when determining the age at which you should begin taking benefits. We believe this decision should be made in conjunction with your overall financial planning process.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further or to begin a conversation regarding your financial plan and how Social Security benefits fit into the plan. Contact CapSouth at 800.929.1001. For more information about CapSouth visit our website at www.capsouthwm.com
Investment advisory services are offered through CapSouth Partners, Inc., dba CapSouth Wealth Management, an independent registered Investment Advisory firm. Information provided by sources deemed to be reliable. CapSouth does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information. This material has been prepared for planning purposes only and is not intended as specific tax or legal advice. Tax and legal laws are often complex and frequently change. Please consult your tax or legal advisor to discuss your specific situation before making any decisions that may have tax or legal consequences.
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[i] https://www.waddell.com/explore-insights/market-news-and-guidance/planning/9-facts-about-social-security
[ii] https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/policy-basics-top-ten-facts-about-social-security
