Anyone else rethinking Social Security timing?

[Jeffman52]

Just like my normal retirement planning, I stick with my plan. For SS DW and I plan to evaluate at 65 but take SS no later than 67. Frankly either age makes no difference to our balance sheets long term.

 

[MichaelB]

This is common throughout government at all levels and in a lot of large banks, health insurance companies, etc., who were early users of main frames in their core businesses. They wrap web front ends around core, battle tested legacy systems. All of them recognize that this can lead to difficult to resolve problems but the transition to newer platforms while continuing mission critical services is hugely complicated and costly.

Maybe AI will eventually figure it out.

It’s also one of the reasons cable companies like Comcast are so dysfunctional and banks find it so difficult to carry out seemingly simple tasks like determining what specific products an account holder uses. The information is spread out over so many older systems it’s impossible to connect easily,

AI should help resolve this. The one current use case everyone seems to agree on right now is coding. Large scale projects such as these should become more affordable.

 

[copyright1997reloaded]

Recent SSA Workforce Numbers:​

• 2023: ~61,000 employees
• 2022: ~56,907 employees (lowest in decades)
• 2013: ~59,823 employees
• 1995: ~62,504 employees

As of January 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) employs approximately 61,153 individuals.
Other than the 1,800 probationary employees that were cut, it has not been disclosed how many persons in the SSA have taken the early resignation option.

With electronic records (in place for a long time now vs. 60's and 70's), the number of employees required to manage the system *should* decrease due to productivity improvements, perhaps offset somewhat by more people in the system.

ETA: I see this was already covered. I'm always late to the party on here.

 

[copyright1997reloaded]

It’s also one of the reasons cable companies like Comcast are so dysfunctional and banks find it so difficult to carry out seemingly simple tasks like determining what specific products an account holder uses. The information is spread out over so many older systems it’s impossible to connect easily,

AI should help resolve this. The one current use case everyone seems to agree on right now is coding. Large scale projects such as these should become more affordable.

Most of the projects I worked on from 2000-2009 (when I retired from mega-corp) could be described as "bridge building". Tying together various legacy systems into services architecture. I was typically involved when they couldn't scale properly using new (at the time) integration technologies. Interestingly, the old legacy systems usually did not have scaling issues.

That was a long time ago (funny how fast 15+ years goes) so who knows where places like Comcast are these days, but I would not be surprised that they are lagging. (I worked with sophisticated financial firms.)

 

[pb4uski]

This is common throughout government at all levels and in a lot of large banks, health insurance companies, etc., who were early users of main frames in their core businesses. They wrap web front ends around core, battle tested legacy systems. All of them recognize that this can lead to difficult to resolve problems but the transition to newer platforms while continuing mission critical services is hugely complicated and costly.

Maybe AI will eventually figure it out.

Spot on and exactly the issue for the 150+ year old mutual life insurer that I worked for in the mid 1980s to late 1990s. Admin systems were COBOL and described as spaghetti code, but for the most part worked so they were focused on bolting on more user-friendly front-ends and more-user friendly reporting.

One the transition to newer systems, I used to say that it is hard to install a new furnace when you are spending all your time feeding the wood stove to keep warm.

 

[Out of Steam]

I filed in December and am scheduled to receive my first payment in April (for March) and am glad that I didn't delay further.

 

[N02L84ER]

We are still delaying because of ACA PTCs and Roth conversion opportunities.

 

[RetireBy90]

I’ll be 69 this year and had planned to wait till 70 but my benefit Jan 2026 is only $200 different than June 2026, plus there is some computation each Jan to count partial years and it will start my tax year for my tax computation so now plan 69 and7 months to start, Jan 26

 

[Koolau]

It used to be about an hour wait time on hold to have someone answer the phone but since WEP and GPO elimination got passed, the wait is up to 8 hours. Yes, I tried on 2 occasions several weeks ago and finally set aside an entire day to sit by the phone. I had submitted my SS tax withholding form at the local SS office in Nov, as instructed on the website but there has been no tax withholding. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to call at 11am and I was on hold until past their "operating hours". Finally someone answered the phone at 7:20pm. She took care of my tax withholding request.

If SS can't figure out their computer mess, you'd think they could at least do what most companies are doing about phone service now: It's called a "call back." I love it.

Too bad we pay all that money and they can't even figure out 150 year old technology - let alone computers.

 

[G POP]

I believe these are very different times.

This time it's different!

 

[G POP]

Tax free just won't fly. Pigs will fly before SS becomes tax free.

Were pigs flying prior to 1984?

 

[aza455]

Gets cancelled? Seriously? Definitely the silliest post ever on this forum.

I suspect that you know that will never happen in our lifetimes but there are people out there that might believe it is possible.

I agree that it is extremely unlikely for SS to get cancelled. However, it could be reformed to become means-tested which for some would be equivalent to cancellation…

 

[Scuba]

Just turning sixty eight. Plan all along was to wait to seventy to apply for SS. Lately, given all the uncertainty surrounding SS, and the changes the current Administration is trying to implement vis a vis cost savings in general, I have been debating applying now.

Still on the fence, but curious what others are thinking.

P.S. I have said if current Administration makes SS payments exempt from tax I would immediately file.

I am not worried about SS being taken away. I believe there is virtually zero threat of that with any administration as the fallout would be too huge - political suicide, regardless of party.

However, we did accelerate DH's SS. We don't really need the cash flow at this time, but he has been having some pretty serious health issues. He will be 67 in March. So far, he's fine, but we realized his life expectancy may not be what we had hoped so we started it. It only took about 3 days from the time he applied online until the first payment was in our account.

We are going to delay mine, likely until age 70, TBD based on many other factors. I'll be 65 later this year.

 

[jazz4cash]

Tax free just won't fly. Pigs will fly before SS becomes tax free.

I would’ve said the same about WEP and GPO. I thought taxes on SS were directed to the trust fund so making all payments untaxed undermines the system. I saw a stat recently and can’t recall but a fairly small % is taxed (due to lack of additional income).

 

[AudiDudi]

I would’ve said the same about WEP and GPO. I thought taxes on SS were directed to the trust fund so making all payments untaxed undermines the system. I saw a stat recently and can’t recall but a fairly small % is taxed (due to lack of additional income).

I read a little while ago that the trust fund receives about $50bil every year.

 

[Chuckanut]

I worked on several transitions during my time in IT. Essentially a second team of the system’s users have run the new system in test mode alongside the old system. Then they compare outputs. Expect the unexpected. Adjust as necessary and run it again, preferably at least one month’s worth of daily data. Not easy and not cheap.

 

[Time2]

The same problem exists now if you ask anyone that has called the SS office lately.

I'm turning 70 later this year and am rethinking waiting to apply as well... not because I'm concerned about the benefits being changed but more about there being employeees at the SSA to handle my application for benefits if it requires any manual intervention.

We applied a couple months ago, my wife's application needed hands on work. It took another trip to the SS office, which was easy after making an appointment. and then waiting about a month to know if it was cleared up. Expecting my first check in 44 days, but whose counting? Edit to add, I waited until 70.

 

[steady saver]

I am not worried about SS being taken away. I believe there is virtually zero threat of that with any administration as the fallout would be too huge - political suicide, regardless of party.

However, we did accelerate DH's SS. We don't really need the cash flow at this time, but he has been having some pretty serious health issues. He will be 67 in March. So far, he's fine, but we realized his life expectancy may not be what we had hoped so we started it. It only took about 3 days from the time he applied online until the first payment was in our account.

We are going to delay mine, likely until age 70, TBD based on many other factors. I'll be 65 later this year.

I'm sorry, Scuba. Here's to continued good health...

 

[Koolau]

I am not worried about SS being taken away. I believe there is virtually zero threat of that with any administration as the fallout would be too huge - political suicide, regardless of party.

However, we did accelerate DH's SS. We don't really need the cash flow at this time, but he has been having some pretty serious health issues. He will be 67 in March. So far, he's fine, but we realized his life expectancy may not be what we had hoped so we started it. It only took about 3 days from the time he applied online until the first payment was in our account.

We are going to delay mine, likely until age 70, TBD based on many other factors. I'll be 65 later this year.

I'm sorry your DH is struggling with health issues. We all hope he gets better. Aloha

 

[athena53]

I’ll be 69 this year and had planned to wait till 70 but my benefit Jan 2026 is only $200 different than June 2026, plus there is some computation each Jan to count partial years and it will start my tax year for my tax computation so now plan 69 and 7 months to start, Jan 26

I'd planned on waiting till 70 but got impatient and filed at 69. As in your case, the extra wasn't much, and I figured you never know how it will change in the future.

Spot on and exactly the issue for the 150+ year old mutual life insurer that I worked for in the mid 1980s to late 1990s. Admin systems were COBOL and described as spaghetti code, but for the most part worked so they were focused on bolting on more user-friendly front-ends and more-user friendly reporting.

One the transition to newer systems, I used to say that it is hard to install a new furnace when you are spending all your time feeding the wood stove to keep warm.

Remember Y2K? Companies were scrambling to find COBOL programmers to make sure their coding worked after 1/1/2000. I can't imagine taking on a re-write of the SS systems.

 

[levindb]

The Stanford marshmallow experiment, was a study conducted in the 1970s by psychologist Walter Mischel. It tested children's ability to delay gratification by offering them a choice between one marshmallow immediately or two marshmallows if they waited for 15 minutes.

 

[RetireBy90]

The Stanford marshmallow experiment, was a study conducted in the 1970s by psychologist Walter Mischel. It tested children's ability to delay gratification by offering them a choice between one marshmallow immediately or two marshmallows if they waited for 15 minutes.

So it seems your gonna make us delay gratification of finding which option won out

 

[Flieger]

The Stanford marshmallow experiment, was a study conducted in the 1970s by psychologist Walter Mischel. It tested children's ability to delay gratification by offering them a choice between one marshmallow immediately or two marshmallows if they waited for 15 minutes.

What they left out was there were not enough marshmallows to give everyone 2 after 15 minutes.

Flieger

 

[EastWest Gal]

We decided to take SS at my FRA with DH taking spousal at that time. He's only a few months older than me. I looked at the lifetime difference based on life expectancy and the amount was not different enough to wait any longer. Since that occurs in 2026, and we are both healthy, we'll do it at that time. I have no control over politics other than my own local influence and vote, so that isn't going to change anything. SS will be in trouble if changes aren't made anyway, just on the basis of demographics. I expect enrollment will take longer as well as everything else because of the current chaos and confusion. Politics plays into that, I suppose.

 

[Midpack]

DW and I will live into our 90’s if our parents are any indication, so I waited to claim at 70 and DW plans to do the same in 1-1/2 yrs. There is nothing we know for sure that would cause me to change my calculus. Guessing what this admin, with conflicting messages already, or another might do is just that, guessing.

For the OP, 68 vs 70 isn’t a big difference…