Filing and Suspending is a New Way to Maximize Benefits for Singles
When I present ways to maximize Social Security retirement benefits, I always feel badly for singles. It seems that the only maximization strategy for singles is to determine the optimum time to retire. Thanks to Kurt Czarnowski, a former Social Security Representative, there is a new maximization strategy for singles.
Let’s say that you are single with a full-retirement-age (FRA) of 66 and you plan on working until you are 70 years old. Kurt Czarnowski suggests that when you reach FRA you file for Social Security benefits and suspend your application. This will allow you to accrue delayed-retirement-credits (DRCs) until you actually retire at 70. (DRCs are about 8 percent per year. If you work until 70, you can increase your FRA, you will increase your benefits by 32 percent.)
The advantage of filing and suspending at FRA is this. If for some reason you need to claim Social Security before 70 you can claim benefits all the way back to your FRA. In other words, you can claim up to four years of benefits. If you do not file and suspend, and claim benefits before 70 you can only claim benefits for the previous six-months after FRA.
Thank you Kurt Czarnowski for a great claiming strategy for singles!
About ksindell
Kathleen Sindell, Ph.D. is the author of numerous academic, popular, and professional finance articles, Web sites, proposals, and books. This includes the bestselling reference book, "Investing Online for Dummies, Eds 1-5" (listed for two consecutive years on the Wall Street Journal's Bestselling Business Book List). Her most recent book "Social Security: Maximize your Benefits" has been listed in Amazon's Top 100 Bestselling Retirement Planning Books. It is important to note that "Social Security: Maximize Your Benefits, 2nd Edition" was just released.
Sindell has an in-depth understanding of the financial services industry and has held Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses. Dr. Sindell is regularly tapped as a financial services expert on ABC World News, The Nightly Business Report, and at popular online and print outlets. Kathleen Sindell, Ph.D. is a member of the Board of Directors for the Financial Planning Association, National Capital Area (FPA NCA), is on the Editorial Advisory Panel of the Journal of Financial Planning, and is Co-Chair of the Metro Washington Financial Planning Day. Sindell is a Course Chair II, CFP Program Academic Officer, and adjunct full-professor at the University of Maryland, UMUC, School of Undergraduate Studies.
Contact Information: ksindell@kathleensindell.com or 703-299-1700
