HOW HARD CAN IT BE TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY IF YOU ARE 62?

Shouldn't social security be easy to obtain when you are of retirement age? I have a friend who continues to bang their head against a brick wall from attempts to have the social security administration (SSA) grant them retirement benefits. How difficult can it be to start getting benefits which are rightfully theirs?

After applying last year, this file is in limbo in some sort of SSA purgatory. Months upon months of phone calls, repeated visits, letters from their Congressman and still nowhere? It shouldn't be this difficult. After doing some research, I found that the SSA doubts whether they have indeed retired. After furnishing the SSA with proof of retirement in the form of a tax return showing low earnings, and a letter from their last employer stating they are retired, the SSA still questions their validity.

The current schedule of retirement ages are as follows:
Age 62, Partial Retirement Benefits
Age 67, Full Retirement with Full Monthly Benefits
Age 70, Full Retirement with Unlimited Additional Earnings*

* After age 62, a person can earn additional income from another job but must earn below $ 14,160 for the year. Any earnings exceeding this amount will be paid back by deducting $1 of Social Security Benefits for every $2 earned from other employment.

What difference does it make if they continue to work? Let's pretend they aren't retired and are going to continue working. If they earn over $ 14,160 and receive SSA benefits, it will have to be paid back next year. They wouldn't be getting away with anything anyway! What do you think?

Andy Williams
President
Abacus Regional Mortgage