One thing that I did not see mentioned was Federal Tax. If you and your spouse collect social security, and one of you also have a State or Government Civilian retirement you will pay Federal Tax on a portion of your Social Security to Uncle Sam. Don't get me started but I have had an additional $150.00 (above what is held back claiming single) a month taken out of my CS retirement and my Military retirement, so I do not owe at the end of the year. I always thought I would not need a Tax person when I retired, guess I was wrong. Watch out for Part time work as well, it could put you over the maximum you are allowed to make when you retire early. After 66 or what ever your full retirement age is the rules change.
Chuck
Bob, Chuck...thanks again. I know if I work part time there is a limit to how much I can earn....want to say it was $14K at 62. I never want to wish any of my life away but if I could do it now rather than wait till Feb I would do it! :) We live in a loghome on 6 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains and I have to tear myself away every morning. Its all wooded except the front yard where my septic field is, and I mow that on my lawn tractor with a vodka and tonic in the drink holder. Like Bob said, getting older ain't all bad :)
Pretty evident I'll be working until I die at my workstation!
I plan on waiting as long as I can to start my SS payments. The longer I wait, the more my wife will have when I kick the bucket since she's younger than I am. At this point, healthcare is the deciding factor and if things look as bad as was predicted about Obamacare and the SCOTUS doesn't intervine, we'll all be an inclined plane, wrapped helically around an axis!
I am happy that I am receiving ss checks at age of 63 now. I called the office today and the representative informed me that my service time was calculated at the time that I applied and figured in to my monthly entitlement. Didn't hurt to verify it.
My wife is even going to get money off of mine even though she has not earned enough time (less than 10yrs) working. She gets 35% of my ss check and it is not supposed to have any effect on my money. That will be equal to a car payment (among other things) each month!!
