With the average monthly benefit at $1,523, retirees who rely on Social Security to pay for all of their living expenses are on very tight budgets. There are plenty of discounts and perks seniors can take advantage of once they do retire, allowing them to live a rich life with limited funds.
It's not recommended to rely solely on social security benefits in retirement, but it can be done. | Social Security was designed to supplement only pensions and retirement savings. But for many, that's no longer the case.
Will Social Security still be around when I retire? Yes. The Social Security taxes you now pay go into the Social Security Trust Funds and are used to pay benefits to current beneficiaries. The Social Security Board of Trustees now estimates that based on current law, in 2041, the Trust Funds will be depleted.
About 40% of older Americans rely exclusively on Social Security for retirement income, according to recent research from the National Institute on Retirement Security.
Seek Employers Who Offer Pension
If you're wondering how to retire at 50 with no money, find a position with a company that offers a pension. With a little extra thought and planning, working for 10 or 15 years at a company with a pension could make a positive impact on your retirement savings.
But if you can supplement your retirement income with other savings or sources of income, then $6,000 a month could be a good starting point for a comfortable retirement.
At age 65: $2,993. At age 66: $3,240. At age 70: $4,194.
According to the SSA's 2021 Annual Statistical Supplement, the monthly benefit amount for retired workers claiming benefits at age 62 earning the average wage was $1,480 per month for the worker alone. The benefit amount for workers with spouses claiming benefits was $2,170 at age 62.
Most experts say your retirement income should be about 80% of your final pre-retirement annual income. 1 That means if you make $100,000 annually at retirement, you need at least $80,000 per year to have a comfortable lifestyle after leaving the workforce.
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.
Panama: A Home Away from Home
You can retire comfortably on $1,300 per month, and it's one of the best countries for quality of life. What's more, English is widely spoken, and you can use your US money anywhere across the country. The country also offers first-rate hospitals, and many of its doctors are US trained.
Pay Off Debt Before Retiring
To make the most of your Social Security income, it's best to pay off all debts, including credit card bills and mortgages, before retiring. This way you can focus on putting your benefits towards what you need day-to-day, rather than spending it on things you purchased in the past.
DEFINITION: The special minimum benefit is a special minimum primary insurance amount ( PIA ) enacted in 1972 to provide adequate benefits to long-term low earners. The first full special minimum PIA in 1973 was $170 per month. Beginning in 1979, its value has increased with price growth and is $886 per month in 2020.
A: Your Social Security payment is based on your best 35 years of work. And, whether we like it or not, if you don't have 35 years of work, the Social Security Administration (SSA) still uses 35 years and posts zeros for the missing years, says Andy Landis, author of Social Security: The Inside Story, 2016 Edition.
That adds up to $2,096.48 as a monthly benefit if you retire at full retirement age. Put another way, Social Security will replace about 42% of your past $60,000 salary. That's a lot better than the roughly 26% figure for those making $120,000 per year.
For example, the AARP calculator estimates that a person born on Jan. 1, 1960, who has averaged a $50,000 annual income would get a monthly benefit of $1,338 if they file for Social Security at 62, $1,911 at full retirement age (in this case, 67), or $2,370 at 70.
1. Mississippi. Early retirement might be possible in Mississippi, the state where retirees spend the least each year. Housing, in particular, is a steal at $6,510, which is a staggering 33.3% below the national average and less than any state in the ranking.
Average Retirement Expenses by Category. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an American household headed by someone aged 65 and older spent an average of $48,791 per year, or $4,065.95 per month, between 2016 and 2020.
The survey, on the whole, found that Americans have grown their personal savings by 10% from $65,900 in 2020 to $73,100 in 2021. What's more, the average retirement savings have increased by a reasonable 13%, from $87,500 to $98,800.
Based on the 80% principle, you can expect to need about $96,000 in annual income after you retire, which is $8,000 per month.