Medicare Blog

why is social security age 62 and medicare at 65

by Vernie Batz Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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By claiming benefits at 65, you're not filing at the earliest possible age of 62, but you're also not waiting too long to get that money. It's a smart bet if you have longevity concerns. Social Security is technically designed to pay you the same lifetime (not monthly) benefit regardless of when you initially file.

Full Answer

Should you take Social Security at 62?

You can receive benefits as early as age 62, but your monthly payments will be reduced by 25% to 30% from your full benefits, depending on the year you were born. Or you can delay receiving benefits until as late as age 70, and your monthly payments will increase by 8% for every year you wait past your full retirement age.

When you are eligible for Social Security and Medicare?

  • You are on dialysis or you've had a kidney transplant because of end-stage renal disease
  • You have been entitled to Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months
  • You have Lou Gehrig's disease. 2

How to retire comfortably at 62?

  • The number of years you plan on living in retirement (A longer lifespan will require more savings)
  • How much money your spouse makes, and how many children under 18 you have at home or plan to support financially (if at all).
  • The types of investments you plan to hold in retirement and how much you intend to invest in growth or income investments

More items...

Who is eligible for Medicare at 62?

You qualify for full Medicare benefits under age 65 if:

  • You have been entitled to Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months (that need not be consecutive); or
  • You receive a disability pension from the Railroad Retirement Board and meet certain conditions; or
  • You have Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which qualifies you immediately; or

More items...

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Does Social Security take out for Medicare at age 62?

The typical age requirement for Medicare is 65, unless you qualify because you have a disability. 2. If you retire before 65, you may be eligible for Social Security benefits starting at age 62, but you are not eligible for Medicare.

How much does Medicare cost at age 62?

Reaching age 62 can affect your spouse's Medicare premiums He can still receive Medicare Part A, but he will have to pay a monthly premium for it. In 2020, the Medicare Part A premium can be as high as $458 per month.

What is the difference in Social Security between 62 and 65?

Social Security benefits are reduced by 20% for a person who retires at 62 whose full retirement age is 65 (born 1937 or earlier). Social Security benefits will be reduced by 205/6% for a person whose full retirement age is 65 and 2 months (retires at 62 in 2000).

What happens if you retire at 62 instead of 65?

In 2022, you will turn 62, the minimum age to claim retirement benefits. But if you do so, rather than waiting until your full retirement age of 67, your monthly benefit will be reduced by 30 percent — permanently. File at 65 and you lose 13.33 percent.

Can I get Medicare Part B for free?

While Medicare Part A – which covers hospital care – is free for most enrollees, Part B – which covers doctor visits, diagnostics, and preventive care – charges participants a premium. Those premiums are a burden for many seniors, but here's how you can pay less for them.

Can I get AARP health insurance at 62?

Full AARP membership is available to anyone age 50 and over.

Why retiring at 62 is a good idea?

Retirees who begin collecting Social Security at 62 instead of at the full retirement age (67 for those born in 1960 or later) can expect their monthly benefits to be 30% lower.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?

However once you are at full retirement age (between 65 and 67 years old, depending on your year of birth) your Social Security payments can no longer be withheld if, when combined with your other forms of income, they exceed the maximum threshold.

What are the advantages of taking Social Security at age 62?

You Have a Shorter Life Expectancy For example, if you start collecting benefits at age 62 when your full retirement age is 66, your monthly benefit will be about 75% of your full-age benefit. So if you expected your monthly benefit to be $1,000 per month at 66, you would only receive around $750 at 62.

Can I draw Social Security at 62 and still work full time?

You can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. But, if you're younger than full retirement age, and earn more than certain amounts, your benefits will be reduced.

What is the average Social Security check at age 62?

$2,364At age 62: $2,364. At age 65: $2,993. At age 66: $3,240. At age 70: $4,194.

Is it better to retire at 62 or 67?

Don't worry, retiring at 62 and claiming your benefits until you're 67 does have its benefits. Retirees who begin collecting Social Security at 62 instead of the full retirement age can expect their monthly benefits to be 30% lower. Delaying claiming until the age of 67 will result in a larger monthly check.

What is the Social Security retirement rate at 65?

Your Social Security retirement benefits will be reduced to 93.3% if you take them at age 65. - Not typically eligible for Medicare, unless you receive SSA or RRB disability benefits or have ALS or ESRD.

How old do you have to be to get Medicare?

Medicare eligibility at age 65. You must typically meet two requirements to receive Medicare benefits: You are at least 65 years old. You are a U.S. citizen or a legal resident for at least five years. In order to receive premium-free Part A of Medicare, you must meet both of the above requirements and qualify for full Social Security ...

How much is Medicare Part A 2020?

In 2020, the Medicare Part A premium can be as high as $458 per month. Let’s say Gerald’s wife, Jessica, reaches age 62 and has worked for the required number of years to qualify for premium-free Part A once she turns 65. Because Jessica is now 62 years old and has met the working requirement, Gerald may now receive premium-free Part A.

How long do you have to be a resident to qualify for Medicare?

Medicare eligibility chart - by age. - Typically eligible for Medicare if you're a U.S. citizen or legal resident for at least 5 years. - If you won't be automatically enrolled when you turn 65, your Initial Enrollment Period begins 3 months before your 65th birthday.

Can a 65 year old spouse get Medicare?

When one spouse in a couple turns 62 years old, the other spouse who is at least 65 years old may now qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A if they haven’t yet qualified based on their own work history. For example, Gerald is 65 years old, but he doesn’t qualify for premium-free Part A because he did not work the minimum number ...

Who can help you compare Medicare Advantage plans?

If you have further questions about Medicare eligibility, contact a licensed insurance agent today. A licensed agent can help answer your questions and help you compare Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) that are available where you live.

Is Medicaid based on income?

Yes. Medicaid qualification is based on income, not age. While Medicaid eligibility differs from one state to another, it is typically available to people of lower incomes and resources including pregnant women, the disabled, the elderly and children. Learn more about the difference between Medicare and Medicaid.

Why is it important to have a Social Security age of 65?

But the main reason it pays to consider 65 as your Social Security filing age is that it's a middle-ground solution.

What happens if you file Social Security at 65?

If you settle on 65 as your filing age, you'll be limiting your longevity risk, all the while ensuring that you don't wind up with the maximum reduction in benefits you might face. Of course, there's one small advantage to claiming Social Security in conjunction with Medicare.

What age do you have to be to get Social Security?

Many seniors rush to claim Social Security as soon as they're able -- so much so that 62 is actually the most common age to sign up for benefits. A much smaller percentage of seniors wait until 70 to collect benefits, and in doing so, they lock in a higher monthly sum for life. Image source: Getty Images.

Is it a good age to claim Social Security?

It's for this reason that 65 may be a great age to claim your benefits; it's a nice compromise.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking your retirement benefits before your full retirement age?

The advantage is that you collect benefits for a longer period of time. The disadvantage is your benefit will be reduced. Each person's situation is different.

What happens if you delay your retirement?

If you delay your benefits until after full retirement age, you will be eligible for delayed retirement credits that would increase your monthly benefit. That there are other things to consider when making the decision about when to begin receiving your retirement benefits.

Is it better to collect your retirement benefits before retirement?

There are advantages and disadvantages to taking your benefit before your full retirement age. The advantage is that you collect benefits for a longer period of time. The disadvantage is your benefit will be reduced. Each person's situation is different.

Why do I have to be on SSDI?

You are on SSDI because you suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. (The two-year requirement is waived in this case.) You suffer from end-stage renal disease. Otherwise, your initial enrollment period for Medicare begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday.

When will Medicare start in 2021?

For example, if you turn 65 on July 4, 2021, the enrollment window opens on April 1. If you are receiving Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration, which handles Medicare enrollment, will send you an information package and your Medicare card at the start of the sign-up period. You’ll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A ...

Many of us will have little choice -- we'll have to start at 62

You can start collecting your Social Security benefits as early as age 62 and as late as age 70 -- though you have a full retirement age (FRA) somewhere in between, which is 66 or 67 for most of us. Start collecting before your FRA, and your benefit checks will shrink. Delay beyond it, and they'll grow bigger.

Timing matters

It's good to have a solid understanding of just how much less (or more) you'll receive from Social Security if you start collecting your benefits early (or late). This table show what percentage of your full retirement benefits you'll get, depending on when you start collecting them, based on your FRA.

You simply may have to start collecting benefits at 62

While this table may have you mulling over which age is best for you to start collecting your benefits, you may actually end up with little choice in the matter. According to the 2019 Retirement Confidence Survey, for example, 43% of respondents reported retiring earlier than they expected, versus only 9% who retired later than expected.

Starting to receive benefits at 62 isn't so bad

Don't feel bad if it looks like you'll be turning on the Social Security faucet early instead of waiting until age 70 for those much fatter checks. Remember that you'll get many more checks by starting early. For example, if you start at age 62 and live to age 85, that's 23 years, meaning 276 months of checks.

The case for delaying up to age 70

On the other hand, if you can put off starting to collect those benefits and you have a decent chance of living a longer-than-average life, it's worth delaying as long as you can, up to age 70. After that, there are no more increases to benefits, so 70 should be the latest age at which you apply for your benefits.

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How long does it take to get Medicare if you are 65?

Individuals under the age of 65 that are receiving Social Security Disability Income or Railroad Retirement Board Disability income have a two year , sliding scale, waiting period to qualify for Medicare insurance beginning at age 62.

What age do you have to retire without health insurance?

If someone retires without a continuing employer-provided health insurance plan, they will need to purchase an individual or family health plan that will meet their medical expectations until reaching the qualifying age of 65 . Medicare Coverage Due to Disease or Disability. Disease Eligibility.

How much does Medicare cost a month?

Depending on the number of quarters worked, the monthly premiums can range from $252 a month for an individual who have worked 30 to 39 quarters, and up to $458 a month for an individual who worked less than 30 quarters. Medicare Part B.

When was Medicare first introduced?

Medicare was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. The program was designed to provide insurance coverage of hospital expenses through Part A, and of medical costs through Part B. Medicare covers senior citizens aged 65 and older and younger individuals with specific disabilities. Medicare is available for legal permanent ...

Is Medicare Part A premium free?

Cost of Medicare. Medicare Part A. Individuals are provided premium-free Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance if the individual or a spouse paid the payroll Medicare tax for a defined period of time while working. If someone does not qualify for the premium-free Part A, they may be able to purchase Part A for a monthly premium, ...

Does Medicare Part B change?

The monthly premiums for Medicare Part B are subject to change from one year to another. There is a standard monthly premium. If an individual’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds the standard income bracket, that person will pay an extra charge for Part B that is calculated on the amount of the additional income.

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Once you've applied, we'll review your application to make sure you meet the basic requirements and contact you if we have any questions. We might request additional documents from you before we can process your application.

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You have a right to appeal any decision we make about whether you’re entitled to payments. You must request an appeal in writing within 60 days of receiving our decision.

You must inform us of certain changes

You must report the changes listed here, because they may affect your eligibility for SSI and your payment amount.

When Do You Need to Report?

Report all changes that may affect your SSI as soon as possible and no later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change occurred.

Reporting your income

You can report your income to us in writing, by phone, online, or through our Smartphone app. Visit our SSI Wage Reporting page to learn more.

Manage your SSI information with a my Social Security account

Once you are receiving SSI, your my Social Security account provides personalized tools. You can use my Social Security to:

When can I retire at 62?

You can reap a higher benefit at “full” retirement age — from 66-67 depending on when you were born — and the highest-possible benefit at age 70. Social Security will pay you more for waiting. But what if you can’t or don’t want to wait? Then “early” retirement at 62 may be the way to go.

How much do you get a month at 62?

Let’s say you were entitled to a $1,000 monthly benefit at full retirement age. You’d be collecting from $700 to $750 a month at 62. That’s a pretty big hit, which, again, depends on when you were born.

What happens if you delay your retirement?

If you delay your benefits until after full retirement age, you will be eligible for delayed retirement credits that would increase your monthly benefit. That there are other things to consider when making the decision about when to begin receiving your retirement benefits.

Is it a good idea to take a check at 62?

You don’t want to do anything else and you have other savings. Then taking the check at 62 is a good move. 3) You want to do something completely different. This assumes you want to move on, but you’re not through with working altogether. Early retirement benefits can provide a cushion.

Can I get Social Security at 62?

So it’s a double whammy. Still, if you have other savings or a private pension, then getting a retirement check at 62 can work.

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