Social Security

Social Security

Forget for the moment whether there’s the political will to tackle the financial problems affecting Social Security and Medicare as outlined in the respective trustees’ reports. There’s a more practical issue at hand, especially for those for whom Social Security and Medicare represent a part, big or small, of their retirement security plan.

Given that Medicare is expected to be exhausted in 2024 and Social Security’s reserves will be exhausted in 2036, what should current and future Social Security beneficiaries do to maximize or protect their benefits? (We’ll tackle what current and future Medicare beneficiaries should do in a future column.)
Don’t act rashly

First and foremost, don’t let media coverage scare you into rash action, said Andy Landis, a principal with Thinking Retirement and the author of “Social Security: The Inside Story.” “I’ve spoken with some pre-retirees who say something like, ‘I’d better sign up for Social Security now, before they reduce the payments. They can’t reduce mine once I sign up.’ That’s not sound planning.”

First, Social Security typically changes very slowly, with reforms announced for years and then phased in over more years, said Landis. For example, today’s talk of possible Social Security cuts is generally aimed at those under 50 or 55. Second, by taking Social Security too early you’re guaranteeing yourself a pay cut for life. Stick with the plan, especially if you planned to wait for higher payments at a higher age.

Others share that point of view. The good news, at least for current beneficiaries, is that current beneficiaries would not be affected by any changes. “The changes will most likely be prospective,” said Craig Copeland, Ph.D., a senior research associate at the Employee Benefit Research Institute.
And don’t worry too much, either

Landis also advised against buying into any media-created Social Security ‘crisis.’ “Social Security is solvent for decades to come, and the glass is 3/4 full even after that,” Landis said. “How many programs, public or private, can say that with confidence? Can you name one private company that can say the same?”

Others are in that very same camp. “I do not think the trustees report is of particular importance,” said Matthew Greenwald, president of Matthew Greenwald & Associates. “The Social Security system has some financial pressures that are not that difficult to address. It could be some affluent retirees will get less and/or that affluent workers will pay more, but these will be at the margins. Overall, I think people can and should count on Social Security system acting basically as it does under currently enacted law.”

And, Nancy Altman, co-chair of the Strengthen Social Security Campaign and chair of the Pension Rights Center, said this: “With respect to whether the benefits will be there, it is important to understand that Social Security is currently in surplus and is projected to remain so for more than another decade, even with no Congressional action whatsoever. Its projected shortfall over its conservative 75-year valuation period is a manageable 0.6% of GDP … The question of how large the benefits should be and how to finance them are political questions, not economic ones. All past Congresses have ensured that benefits were always paid on time, and there is no reason to think future Congresses will be less responsible.”

Sure, Social Security faces long-term shortfalls, Landis said. “But the numbers we’re seeing now have been expected since the mid-1980s,” Landis said. “It was always expected that Social Security financing, overhauled in 1983, would get us part way through Baby Boomer retirements in the 2030s. Later generations would decide how to steer Social Security after that. It’s sort of like your next birthday — it’s hardly a surprise because you could see it coming.”
Then again, face the facts

It is a reasonably safe bet that the Social Security program will be with us for a long time to come, however federal budgetary conditions may ultimately require some downward adjustments in benefits for high earners and/or increases in the retirement age, said Eric Todder, co-director, Tax Policy Center, Urban Institute.

Given that, future beneficiaries who will likely face some sort of reform should consider if nothing else how to maximize their benefits under the current law of the land: The most effective method for maximizing benefits is to continue to work as long as possible, said Copeland. “Given the actuarial adjustment of delaying retirement past age 62 and the normal retirement age, continuing to work and delaying benefit claiming would do the most to maximize one’s benefit.

Others, including Kent Smetters, an associate professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the founder of Veritat Advisors, said Americans should work at least to their full retirement age, if not to age 70.

And, Dallas Salisbury, president and CEO of the Employee Benefit Research Institute, had this to say: “I would tell anyone who can wait to take Social Security until 70 to do so. I tell people to assume they will get between 75% and 100% of the promised benefit. To try to build a plan that works with the 75% and view any more as gravy.”

More @ http://www.marketwatch.com/story/get-ready-for-social-security-medicare-meltdowns-2011-05-19?siteid=nwhpf