What Older Workers Don't Know About Social Security

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I am 67 but I don't have enough quarters to make 40. I started working when I was 60 and planning to retire when I will be 70 so I can have the 40 quarters of work that I need. What do you think? Can I retire early?

J. Daguman of VA 5:32PM May 09, 2013

This article is a mini research paper about the knowledge of average people on their SS benefits. Too much is focused on the statistics of knowledge level of people instead of explaining what people need to know. The article sounds like gossip column by some pundit to highlight the ignorance of the average person.

Ivan Fernandez of TX 10:43PM April 29, 2013

Why in the world is Social Security Disability taxed? I thought my lawyer told me that I would not have to pay taxes on it when I finally received my SS Disability. It is not enough to survive on my own, besides my doctor and medicine bills. Thank God I am married.I only receive $506 a month.

Cindy Anderson of AR 11:02AM March 25, 2013

ok. good to know

Robert Cheesman of NJ 1:17PM March 10, 2013

Under "earnings test" you say , " most people who WORK before full retirement age..." - Do mean "most people who RETIRE before FRA?" Also,while there is no penalty on SS earnings after FRA, there is a formula for figuring 85% of SS earnings for income tax on those earnings.

Dot of MS 11:58AM March 07, 2013

Under "earnings test" you say , " most people who WORK before full retirement age..." - Do mean "most people who RETIRE before FRA?" Also,while there is no penalty on SS earnings after FRA, there is a formula for figuring 85% of SS earnings for income tax on those earnings.

Dot of MS 11:58AM March 07, 2013

One sentence says benefits are reduced 33 cents per dollar over 38,880, then Reichenstein says, "And once you turn your retirement age, there is no penalty for working and collecting retirement benefits at the same time." Which is correct?

Ron of NM 9:44AM March 07, 2013

As a 75 year old who has had a social security card since the age of 13, and worked till 70 years old.
Quit giving social security benefits to people who have not reached the retirement age.
Quit taking money out of part "B".
Quit giving a insurance company $ 1,000.00 per month per person to manage an account.
Look deeper into Medicare Fraud by Doctors and Hospitals, The sick person is not the fraud it is the Hospitals and Doctors.

Robert of FL 2:06AM March 07, 2013

This article needs updating. It is from April 2, 2012. Some things are different for 2013 - for instance the upper limit on earnings ("...the earnings limit is $38,880"). It is just over $40,000 for 2013.
Also, an increase of 8% over 4 years will come out to a compounded 36% - not 32%.
Don't publish old or wrong information.

David of MI 11:39PM March 06, 2013

If I die before ever having filed, would my surviving spouse be entitled to whatever benefit I would have gotten if I had filed? I will be 65 this year, and still in fairly good health. My wife is 7 years younger.
If I was still working at 67 and dropped dead, would my wife be entitled to my benefit? At what age could she collect it?

Ken Kimball of MA 9:20AM March 01, 2013