- May 7, 2013
- 699
- 303
There is something very misleading about the yearly Social Security Statement you get every year after you've earned enough credits to qualify for benefits...I think they mail them out every three years now, I'm not sure. But anyway if you stopped working, or retired early, or stopped working for some reason, and you've been off the books not paying into Social Security, then do not depend on that yearly statement. You will be getting less than what that statement says more than likely. After all, it's really just an estimate.
The way that statement reads is what's so misleading, and I think they lay it out this way on purpose for whatever reason. This part, which is at the top of page 2, is so tricky that mostly everybody misunderstands it. I talked to one attorney, and he got so confused, he told me when I found out how it's supposed to be understood, let him know...that had to be a black attorney. All jokes aside, here is how the top of page 2 reads, and how they play with words:
*Retirement: You have earned enough credits to qualify for benefits. At your current earnings rate, if you stop working...
At age 62, your payment would be about.........................(amount per month)
Most people read this as if they're saying if you stop working, then at age 62 you will get the dollar amount per month they listed. But what it's really saying is, if you continue to work until you're 62, then your dollar amount would be the amount per month they listed.
Even if you do work until 62, these are still only estimates. However again, if you stop working now, and never pay into Social Security again, then the amount you would receive at 62 will be less than what it says in that statement they mail to you. But if you earned a lot in your working career before you stopped working, then the amount you receive at 62 won't be a lot less than what they listed, however it will still be less.
Now with all said, this may be more misleading to me than the rest of you, because they haven't mailed me one since 2008. Perhaps the next one they mail me may show a closer estimate, however I already know it's not going to be as much as they said in 2008. Now if you'r e not working, but you've still been receiving your statement yearly, or at least every couple of years, then your estimate may be more accurate. One way or another, I'd call the Social Security Administration and check on it. You don't want to do like many people do, and find out after they apply for benefits.
While I'm on the topic of retirement, I'm going to make a thread on this very important subject, because what I've noticed is, we as Americans tend to let each other run into a brick wall, one after another on this. Looking out for outsiders is one thing, but for some reason, we don't seem to pass enough info down to our offspring's or other young people in our family when it comes to this. I can't really say it's anybodies individual fault 100%, but it's something that shouldn't be happening as much as it does.
The way that statement reads is what's so misleading, and I think they lay it out this way on purpose for whatever reason. This part, which is at the top of page 2, is so tricky that mostly everybody misunderstands it. I talked to one attorney, and he got so confused, he told me when I found out how it's supposed to be understood, let him know...that had to be a black attorney. All jokes aside, here is how the top of page 2 reads, and how they play with words:
*Retirement: You have earned enough credits to qualify for benefits. At your current earnings rate, if you stop working...
At age 62, your payment would be about.........................(amount per month)
Most people read this as if they're saying if you stop working, then at age 62 you will get the dollar amount per month they listed. But what it's really saying is, if you continue to work until you're 62, then your dollar amount would be the amount per month they listed.
Even if you do work until 62, these are still only estimates. However again, if you stop working now, and never pay into Social Security again, then the amount you would receive at 62 will be less than what it says in that statement they mail to you. But if you earned a lot in your working career before you stopped working, then the amount you receive at 62 won't be a lot less than what they listed, however it will still be less.
Now with all said, this may be more misleading to me than the rest of you, because they haven't mailed me one since 2008. Perhaps the next one they mail me may show a closer estimate, however I already know it's not going to be as much as they said in 2008. Now if you'r e not working, but you've still been receiving your statement yearly, or at least every couple of years, then your estimate may be more accurate. One way or another, I'd call the Social Security Administration and check on it. You don't want to do like many people do, and find out after they apply for benefits.
While I'm on the topic of retirement, I'm going to make a thread on this very important subject, because what I've noticed is, we as Americans tend to let each other run into a brick wall, one after another on this. Looking out for outsiders is one thing, but for some reason, we don't seem to pass enough info down to our offspring's or other young people in our family when it comes to this. I can't really say it's anybodies individual fault 100%, but it's something that shouldn't be happening as much as it does.