Factors Affecting Retirement Benefits from Social Security

People need to work in order to survive in the continuous struggle for existence. Through work and the salary that they get in exchange of the services that they provide, they are able to make the ends meet.

People usually retire by the time they reach the age of 65. Here, they are able to relax and enjoy the remaining days of their lives with their family and friends, with no debts to worry and no deadlines to beat.

On the other hand, people who had been working hard in the past are also guaranteed of sure benefits by the time they retire through the Social Security retirement benefits. These benefits are hard-earned money and are upshots of the numerous years of toiling.

The Concept of Social Security

In reality, the retirement benefits that can be derived from Social Security are based on three important aspects: the past earnings of the concerned individual, his or her age, and the time they begin collecting benefits.

Here is how it works:

1. The contributor’s age

By the time an individual reaches the age of 62, he or she may already obtain his or her Social Security retirement benefits and may cease on working. But for those who are not yet fulfilled with their jobs, they may opt to get their Social Security retirement benefits anytime between the ages of 62 and 70.

However, because one’s age may directly influence the amount or the kinds of benefits that he or she may obtain, it is important to consider other savings in order to compensate other financial needs in the future.

2. The past earnings

Not all people are expected to receive Social Security retirement benefits equally. The benefits are not uniform in amount and may differ from one person to another depending on the accumulated contributions based on the past earnings of an individual.

Hence, the retirement benefits is entirely dependent on the amount of the person’s past take home pay.

3. The time they begin collecting the benefits.

As mentioned, not all Social Security retirement benefits are created equal. With the new rules of Social Security, the amount of retirement benefits will vary depending on the time the time people will start collecting their Social Security retirement benefits.

With these three factors, one’s financial future should not be dependent on Social Security retirement benefits alone.