I Just Signed up to Begin Receiving my Social Security Benefits
By Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
Midland, Michigan
April 9, 2018 1:27pm CST
I just finished the process of signing up for my social security benefits. I intended to wait another month or two before beginning, but my tax accountant told me I wouldn't lose that much if I signed up the last few months before my next birthday. Prior to filling out the application and after reading info on the site, I discovered that since my birthday is on the first of the month, they treat my birthday as if it is the previous month. That means that if I get benefits yet this month it's only two months early and will take off only about six dollar or so.
If I was only getting one grand, I'd have waited, but since it's over that amount I figure I may as well begin receiving benefits asap. I have no idea how quickly they begin sending payments once the application is processed, but if it does come this month that would help us with extra money when we visit my brother in AZ next month.
I took two extra days off this week just in case I still needed to get my tax stuff done. I went to my accountant last Friday, but will try to get my filing caught up and also work on cleaning and decluttering the papers that will be saved in case we're audited in the future. We never have been, and I don't expect that to happen, but it would be better to have things where they are organized and not scattered on my table any longer.
On Wednesday, I plan on helping one of my employees do her taxes since her ex-husband always did them in the past. And on Thursday, I have a dental appointment early and wound care before lunch, then after lunch a friend and I will be seeing A Wrinkle in Time to decide for ourselves whether it's a good flick or not.
*(For the time being I won't be signing up for additional medicare benefits since I am paying for health benefits at work. Even though medicare premiums will save me a ton of money I've already spent my deductible on my work plan and may as well use that for my knee surgery this summer. I can make the switch for next year).
10 people like this
12 responses
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Apr 18
I'm guessing you're pretty young yet and have a long way to go? I plan on working until I'm seventy if I can, so my benefits will increase if they even last that long.
1 person likes this
@carebear29 (32002)
• Wausau, Wisconsin
9 Apr 18
@MarshaMusselman im 33 and my son gets ssi. i been having issues with direct express right now
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Apr 18
@carebear29 I don't know what that is, unless you mean direct deposit?
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@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
9 Apr 18
Sounds good. Here we can retrieve our retirement savings at 55 years old. And they distribute it in a lump sum.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Apr 18
@wongchoiyee When people there get their lump sum retirement do most invest it so it lasts longer? I think most Americans would squander their money if they got it that way. Not all would, but it goes or gets spent faster than most people expect.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
10 Apr 18
I saw the previews for A Wrinkle in time several times and then reading the reviews I decided to skip it but I am debating going to see Chappaquiddick.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
10 Apr 18
Did you ever read wrinkle in time? If I didn't decide to see this one I thought about one of the Christian ones instead.
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@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
11 Apr 18
@MarshaMusselman No, I never read it. So far this year the Darkest Hour was my favorite with The Post second.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
11 Apr 18
@BelleStarr I don't see many movies and never have. The last one I saw was the Shack either last year or the year before that. Maybe once I retire or work less I will see more movies.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
10 Apr 18
@MarshaMusselman Here even people who work get their pensions from the Swiss Government, it's not private. You can pay a private insurance to have a sort of additional pension when you stop working.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
12 Apr 18
@MarshaMusselman In Switzerland you pay a monthly amount (that is proportional to what you earn) and you will receive your pension according to what you paid. If you have a low salary you will receive a low pension. If you had a very high salary the pension you receive is proportional to your past salary and what you pay. If can, if you like, to subscribe to a private pension fund, you are not obliged.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
10 Apr 18
Full retirement here for social security for years near my birth is 66 also, but social security is mainly money I put into the fund that i am now eligible for whether I work or not.
Had I applied before this year I would have to give half back once I exceeded 17 grand or thereabouts. And that would have cut my future monthly benefits by a few hundred.
For anyone that gets a pension from jobs they don't get it until they leave that job, but I think they can make money in other avenues at the same time.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
12 Apr 18
sounds as though it all went smoothly for you
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@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
4 May 18
@MarshaMusselman good timing if it comes right before your trip - good luck
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
4 May 18
Once I begin getting my checks then I will j know whether it all went smoothly or not. My first check is due to arrive the day before I head to Arizona for five days. But, it will be direct deposited and I'm hoping to use some of it when gone.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
4 May 18
@arthurchappell thanks. I'm hoping to get it a few days before, since often it happens that way.
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@Marilynda1225 (91127)
• United States
10 Apr 18
I had to take my benefits early and hadn't expected to retire when I did.
Good luck with your Social Security 
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
10 Apr 18
Thanks. Now that I found its possible for me to begin getting it now Im a bit excited. I may not make it working four more years as my thumb joint on my left hand is getting a lot worse. But, Im hopeful it will all work out.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
24 Apr 18
@sallypup I will get retirement from work once I'm done there, but, last I looked it was just around four hundred per month. I've not checked since going full-time, its probably gone up some.
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
19 Apr 18
That is partially why Im waiting, to get the current maximum from ssc at least. I get a small amount of retirement from my job that I forget its even there. Corporate sometimes offers incentives and even though they aren't as good as major corporations they are better than nothing. Maybe they will offer another by the time Im ready to leave.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69210)
• Centralia, Washington
21 Apr 18
@MarshaMusselman Hubby's retirement check will be pretty good when its combined with social security. I hope you do get a bigger amount of funds.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Apr 18
I'm still working full time, so I won't be getting the other benefits. Next year I'll add on medicare probably. *(Edited to reflect medicare, not medicaid).
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
9 Apr 18
@MarshaMusselman At least you have a job to support you. You're right. There's always next year for sure. 
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
4 May 18
I don't have any other retirement income like a money market or bonds or anything that's partially why I wanted the full amount. Plus, here when we get it before we're of full age and we're still working we have to pay back half of what we receive once we make over seventeen grand per year.
I would have gotten 200 less than I will get plus pay a portion back. This way I'll get more and because I'm still working, (*and now I can work any hours and pay and keep it all) it will add to my benefits at a later time.
If I didn't go full-time once I hit sixty-two, then I may have had no choice but to begin my benefits then while still working.
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