Claims full benefits
Your full Social Security benefit depends on the age at which you retire.
If you retire at 67, which is the full retirement age, in January 2022, your maximum benefit will be $3,345.
If you retire at age 62 in 2022, your maximum benefit will be $2,364, according to the Social Security Administration.
If you retire at age 70 in 2022, your maximum benefit will be $4,194.
The SSA also confirmed that the maximum amount of income subject to Social Security tax would increase this month.
This will rise from $142,800 to $147,000 following an increase in the average salary.
If your Social Security check doesn’t arrive
If Americans do not receive their Social Security payment on the expected date, they should wait three additional postal days before contacting the Social Security Administration.
Recipients receive their payment monthly, and seniors cannot withdraw their amount as a lump sum, according to the SSA.
But retirees who have a separate private retirement savings account, such as a 401(k), can withdraw more money if they want.
Should you wait to claim?
If you haven’t earned much in your work history and you just got a better paying job, it would make sense to continue building your benefits.
Currently, the maximum taxable salary is $142,800 in 2021, but that will be increased to $147,000 next year.
Once your earnings exceed that salary cap, you will not be taxed on it for Social Security.
Waiting to claim Social Security can be a good opportunity to improve your earnings history.
How remarriage affects survivor benefits
If you decide to remarry before you reach the age of 60, you will lose the right to survivor benefits from the previous marriage.
So if your survivor benefits are part of your primary source of income, this is something you might want to consider.
Remarrying after turning 60 has no effect on the survivor’s benefit.
If you simply got divorced and later decide to remarry, the benefits you receive from your ex-spouse’s account will stop.