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Social Security - Available in 2029?
09-21-2017, 12:13 PM
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#1
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 185
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Social Security - Available in 2029?
I know that nobody knows what will happen in the future, but I am 50 and looking forward and planning. I could start receiving social security benefits at 62 in 2029. Is it ok for me to include this into my planning for ER?
__________________
Shabby
- Live below your means
- Stay out of debt
- Save all you can
- Buy used cars
- Focus on your end goal (FIRED June 2019)
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09-21-2017, 12:17 PM
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#2
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,396
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Yes.
P.S. Everyone drives a used car.
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09-21-2017, 12:19 PM
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,155
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Some of us think that the only change to SS is likely to be the 25% reduction in benefits starting in 2034. Others think our Congresscritters will figure out a way to avoid even that. Still others think the whole program will go belly up before then.
Personally, I'm in the first camp, but you have to make the assumptions that will let you sleep at night.
__________________
I thought growing old would take longer.
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09-21-2017, 12:20 PM
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#4
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: New York City
Posts: 2,838
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JustCurious
Yes.
P.S. Everyone drives a used car.
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hahaha
__________________
Withdrawal Rate currently zero, Pension 137 % of our spending, Wasted 5 years of my prime working extra for a safe withdrawal rate. I can live like a King for a year, or a Prince for the rest of my life. I will stay on topic, I will stay on topic, I will stay on topic
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09-21-2017, 12:27 PM
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#5
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SF East Bay
Posts: 4,321
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What do you mean when you ask "is it OK"? If you mean do we think that SS will still be around, then there have been many posts and threads on this subject. The overwhelming consensus is that it will still be around, though if you want to be conservative, it wouldn't hurt to assume a slightly lower benefit. Besides, that's what us fiscally conservative folks do isn't it - hope for the best while planning for the worst?
Some think that SS might be taxed differently in order to effectively reduce benefits. Others think that the annual COLA might be tied to a different index, so that the buying power of the payouts could be gradually reduced over time. Some think that SS won't be affected that much at all, and I'm sure a brave few are even hoping that benefits will be greater
For myself, I can do OK with no SS at all. I am considering everything that comes from it as icing on top of the cake. If you want to include it in your plans, at your age, I think it's a pretty safe bet that you'll get at least a good percentage of what is currently projected. Why not use a figure of, say, 75% of current estimated benefits? It all depends on how conservative you want to be with your future planning.
__________________
Contentedly ER, with 3 furry friends (now, sadly, 1).
Planning my escape to the wide open spaces in my campervan (with my remaining kitty, of course!)
On a mission to become the world's second most boring man.
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09-21-2017, 12:45 PM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: New York City
Posts: 2,838
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1- when I found this site, after retiring I ran my numbers. I did them with full promised Soc sec, then I did it with zero. I then did it with 70 or 75 % I cant remember. Most of the time I throw in 70 % of my entire portfolio, 70 % of my pension etc. in so when I get the results I know thats how much hard cash I can spend on living. (i,e. after tax money).
__________________
Withdrawal Rate currently zero, Pension 137 % of our spending, Wasted 5 years of my prime working extra for a safe withdrawal rate. I can live like a King for a year, or a Prince for the rest of my life. I will stay on topic, I will stay on topic, I will stay on topic
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09-21-2017, 12:54 PM
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#7
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 185
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Thanks. I like the idea of figuring it at 75%. Not to get political, but it sure would be nice if I got back all the money I have been paying into it for years.
__________________
Shabby
- Live below your means
- Stay out of debt
- Save all you can
- Buy used cars
- Focus on your end goal (FIRED June 2019)
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09-21-2017, 12:59 PM
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#8
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Pinetops
Posts: 521
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shabby
I know that nobody knows what will happen in the future, but I am 50 and looking forward and planning. I could start receiving social security benefits at 62 in 2029. Is it ok for me to include this into my planning for ER?
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It is my opinion that the closer you get to age 60, the less of a chance that your estimated benefits will be reduced.
I think that there is a better chance that the laws are changed where SS would not be available at age 62 - but possibly phased in at a later age - similar to the changes that were made to the current system.
I turn 57 in December and I am rather confident that I will be able to collect SS at age 62 (if I chose to.)
Michael
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09-21-2017, 02:08 PM
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#9
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 185
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Aren't you taking it at 62? Seems like it would be good to get it ASAP in case things change even though it is less.
__________________
Shabby
- Live below your means
- Stay out of debt
- Save all you can
- Buy used cars
- Focus on your end goal (FIRED June 2019)
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09-21-2017, 02:11 PM
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#10
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 629
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shabby
Thanks. I like the idea of figuring it at 75%. Not to get political, but it sure would be nice if I got back all the money I have been paying into it for years.
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This is why I think it's a crock that SS is not inheritable. Someone pays into it their entire life, and either dies before they take benefits, or gets very little back compared to what they put in before they pass.
Not knowing what will be happening with SS when I finally take benefits (at age 70, three years from now) I am not planning on it being there. If it is, it will be a nice bonus.
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09-21-2017, 02:18 PM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 13,148
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shabby
Thanks. I like the idea of figuring it at 75%. Not to get political, but it sure would be nice if I got back all the money I have been paying into it for years.
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But it doesn't work that way. Your money has been going to current retirees. Tomorrow's youngsters will be paying your SS. It's not a system I like, but that's the way it is.
__________________
"I wasn't born blue blood. I was born blue-collar." John Wort Hannam
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09-21-2017, 02:25 PM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Spending the Kids Inheritance and living in Chicago
Posts: 16,973
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SheitlQueen
This is why I think it's a crock that SS is not inheritable. Someone pays into it their entire life, and either dies before they take benefits, or gets very little back compared to what they put in before they pass.
......
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It was designed to be like welfare (an income re-distribution system) except that everyone qualifies for it.
You can't inherit it, because it's not a savings accumulation system. So each person really doesn't have an account with their contributions sitting in it waiting to be drawn.
Perhaps politically when it started the politicians didn't want to say it's "welfare for all" as that would not go over well with many people.
It's a crock like fire insurance, I am thinking I'm probably not going to have my house burn down, so I wasted my my money insuring it..
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09-21-2017, 02:33 PM
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#13
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Atlanta Suburb
Posts: 1,499
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As others have said, to be safe, I would assume a 20% to 30% reduction. Without any changes, SS tax revenues support this percent. Keep in mind, if you overreact it may cause less optimal decisions elsewhere in your plan. "Will I have to work more years. How much can I spend". There are risks on either side of your decision.
FN
__________________
"Oh, twice as much ain't twice as good
And can't sustain like one half could
It's wanting more that's gonna send me to my knees" - John Mayer
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09-21-2017, 02:41 PM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SF East Bay
Posts: 4,321
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Yes, and to add to that point, SheitlQueen, imagine that you live a lot longer than expected. Say you live to be 100 years old. How would you feel if, on reaching the age of 78, you received a letter from SS saying that your payments would cease because, at this point, you had already received everything you paid into the system? Doesn't seem so great now does it?
SS pays you for as long as you live, regardless of how long that is. Folk who die early don't collect that much, whereas those who live long lives collect a lot more. We all pay into it for the collective good. Instead of thinking of it in terms of "getting the most for your money", think of it as longevity insurance - like an annuity.
__________________
Contentedly ER, with 3 furry friends (now, sadly, 1).
Planning my escape to the wide open spaces in my campervan (with my remaining kitty, of course!)
On a mission to become the world's second most boring man.
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09-21-2017, 02:57 PM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 13,148
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Tom
Yes, and to add to that point, SheitlQueen, imagine that you live a lot longer than expected. Say you live to be 100 years old. How would you feel if, on reaching the age of 78, you received a letter from SS saying that your payments would cease because, at this point, you had already received everything you paid into the system? Doesn't seem so great now does it?
SS pays you for as long as you live, regardless of how long that is. Folk who die early don't collect that much, whereas those who live long lives collect a lot more. We all pay into it for the collective good. Instead of thinking of it in terms of "getting the most for your money", think of it as longevity insurance - like an annuity.
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It's just an issue that some folks, like SheitQueen, would prefer SS to be a savings plan rather than an insurance plan. But, it's an insurance plan (with a significant welfare component), so somebody has to receive less than they pay in. And that's the short lived.
__________________
"I wasn't born blue blood. I was born blue-collar." John Wort Hannam
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09-21-2017, 03:17 PM
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#16
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Kerrville,Tx
Posts: 3,361
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SheitlQueen
This is why I think it's a crock that SS is not inheritable. Someone pays into it their entire life, and either dies before they take benefits, or gets very little back compared to what they put in before they pass.
Not knowing what will be happening with SS when I finally take benefits (at age 70, three years from now) I am not planning on it being there. If it is, it will be a nice bonus.
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Actually there are a couple of inheritable features of SS #1 the Wifes Benefit of 1/2 of SS if the spouse is over 62, second if your children are under 18 when you die they get benefits till 18 and the surviving spouse also gets benefits until the children reach 18. Recall the full name is Old Age Survivors and Disability insurance.
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09-21-2017, 03:38 PM
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#17
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Midwest
Posts: 1,787
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Re: will SS be around in 2029?
My job training to sell annuities and mutual funds in 1980 included info on SS. We read many articles projecting the "future" of SS: reduced benefits, possible taxation, means testing, etc....stop me if this sounds familiar at all.....
And, here we are, 37 years later.....There is a reason touching SS is considered "touching the 3rd rail" by Congress.
I fully expect higher FICA taxes, continued low COLA adjustments and no other changes (except MAYBE raising the early claiming age from 62). OP, I expect you will do OK looking at a conservative 75% of your projected benefits.
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09-21-2017, 04:10 PM
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#18
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 13,846
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Yes it will be around, but the starting age may likely go up, as others mentioned. Since you are 50 now, probably a safe bet the current ages will apply to you, since any changes usually phase in with some line-in-the-sand grandfathering.
So for conservative planning, if you went with starting at 65, and getting 75%, that would be pretty safe.
If you were 40, I'd say plan on not starting till 70.
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09-21-2017, 04:15 PM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 37,931
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If I get less SS I'll be paying less in taxes. I hope it still covers my Medicare premiums.
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
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09-21-2017, 04:36 PM
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#20
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Pinetops
Posts: 521
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Michaela
It is my opinion that the closer you get to age 60, the less of a chance that your estimated benefits will be reduced.
I think that there is a better chance that the laws are changed where SS would not be available at age 62 - but possibly phased in at a later age - similar to the changes that were made to the current system.
I turn 57 in December and I am rather confident that I will be able to collect SS at age 62 (if I chose to.)
Michael
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Of course, I would consider it at 62.
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