My Comments: Virtually all of us now retired depend to some degree on our Social Security retirement benefits. To suggest otherwise is silly. It’s now so ingrained in our financial lives that to maintain our standard of living, we must make sure we continue to receive those monthly benefits. That’s true no matter how much other money you might have.

So each year, we anticipate a small increase provided there was an increase in the cost of living as measured by the protocols used by the Social Security Administration. This year it’s 1.6%. Not a lot, but far better than nothing.

At the same time, the amount being withheld to pay for Medicare is largely a function of how big an increase there is in the cost of health care. And if you also have Plan D, which pays for medications, that cost will likely increase this year.

To the extent you can, you need to communicate with your Congressional representatives to allow the Medicare folks to shop around, both inside and outside the US, to get the best prices on prescription drugs. They have never been allowed to do that thanks to lobbying efforts from the Rx drug industry. It means we’re paying far more than we need to which effectively reduces the net amount we receive from our monthly benefits.

By Robert Powell \ 11 JAN 20 \ https://tinyurl.com/rwbeggq

Each year, those saving for and living in retirement should check up on their Social Security accounts and be aware of what changes are coming in the new year.

This year, a set of scheduled annual changes are set to go into effect, following on the heels of the Securing Every Community for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act that was passed by Congress and signed into law in late December.

For Social Security, “the year 2020 will see the same set of annual changes which are built into the program and automatically take effect in January of each year, just like clockwork,” said Kurt Czarnowski, a principal with Czarnowski Consulting.

Tip: Get your MySocialSecurity Account. With your free, personal MySocialSecurity account, you can receive personalized estimates of future benefits based on your real earnings, see your latest Statement, and review your earnings history. If you don’t have a MySocialSecurity account, sign up here.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 69 million Americans will increase by 1.6% in 2020. According to the Social Security Administration, the 1.6% cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, will begin with benefits payable to more than 63 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2020.

For the average retired worker, the increase is about $24 a month, according to Donna Clements, manager of Mercer’s Social Security Information Services. The maximum Social Security benefit a worker retiring at age full retirement age (FRA) in 2020 will receive is $3,011 per month, up from $2,861.

Earnings Subject to Social Security Tax

The 7.65% tax rate is the combined rate for Social Security and Medicare. The Social Security portion (OASDI) is 6.20% on earnings up to the applicable taxable maximum amount. The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (the taxable maximum) will increase to $137,700, up from $132,900 in 2019. The Social Security Chief Actuary’s Office estimates approximately 11.8 million people are affected by the taxable maximum increase to $137,700 for 2020.

The Medicare portion (HI) is 1.45% on all earnings.

Also, as of January 2013, individuals with earned income of more than $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly) pay an additional 0.9% in Medicare taxes. The tax rates shown above do not include the 0.9%.

There are about 176 million working people paying this combined 7.65% payroll tax, matched by their employers, to support these programs, according to Clements.

Quarter of Coverage

Those not yet collecting benefits will be required to earn $1,410 to accrue one Social Security credit, otherwise known as a “quarter of coverage” or QC, toward the 40 that are needed to collect retirement benefits, says Czarnowski. That’s up from $1,360 in 2019.

According to the Social Security Administration, “quarter of coverage” is a legal term, but you may also see the term “Social Security credit” (or just “credit”) used elsewhere. A QC is the basic unit for determining whether a worker is insured under the Social Security program.

Retirement Earnings Test Exempt Amounts

The earnings limit for workers who are younger than full retirement age, or FRA, (age 66 for people born in 1943 through 1954) will increase to $18,240. Social Security will deduct $1 from benefits for each $2 earned over $18,240. Also, the earnings limit for people turning 66 in 2020 will increase to $48,600. Social Security will deduct $1 from benefits for each $3 earned over $48,600 until the month the worker turns age 66.

There is no limit on earnings for workers who are FRA or older for the entire year.

FRA Is Changing

Full retirement age is the age at which a person may first become entitled to full, or unreduced, retirement benefits. But your FRA depends on when you were born. For those born in 1960 or later it is 67. For those born 1943-1954 it’s 66. You can find the exact month if you go to this URL: https://tinyurl.com/p3h5qz7

When Should You Retire?

The answer will affect the Social Security benefit payable for life. There are three typical scenarios. Below is from a blog post written by Clements.

Retire at FRA: Workers can begin collecting 100% of their benefit at FRA, age 66 in 2020. This age is gradually increasing and will be age 67 for people born in 1960 and later. If you reach FRA in 2020, you can earn $48,600 in the period before the month that you attain FRA with no reduction in benefits. If earnings exceed this, then $1 in benefits is withheld for every $3 earned above $48,600. At FRA and after, there is no reduction in benefits based on current earnings. This means you can continue to work and collect your salary and your full Social Security benefit.

Retire early: Workers can retire as early as age 62 with permanently reduced benefits. The benefit is reduced because they begin sooner so there are more monthly benefit payments. The reduction applies for each month of retirement before your full retirement age. Also if you continue to work and are under full retirement age (FRA), the benefit could be further reduced or eliminated entirely by the earnings limitation. For those under FRA throughout 2020, you can earn $18,240. If earnings exceed this, then $1 of benefits is withheld for every $2 earned above $18,240. Depending on the total earnings, the Social Security benefit could be reduced to zero.

Retire later: Workers can wait to retire until age 70 to earn delayed retirement credits (DRCs). For each month after your FRA, DRCs are earned and will permanently increase the Social Security benefit. The DRC is 8% for each full year (prorated for months) up to age 70. The DRC increases the benefit for the retired worker but not the spouse. However, the DRCs are paid to the surviving spouse in the event of the worker’s death. Waiting as long as possible to start your benefit is the best option if you are in good health but there is no benefit to waiting beyond age 70 to start collecting benefits since the DRCs stop at this age.