Retired in USA

Your golden years are your best years! Make them shine!

  • Home
  • Personal Finance
  • Retirement Life
  • Saving & Spending

Some Retirees Won’t Get Great Social Security Benefits- Here’s 7 Reasons Why

June 22, 2022 · Updated February 8, 2026 · Personal Finance

social security

Photo by wavebreakmedia From Shutterstock

6. Infrequent workers

We overstressed this topic about Social Security benefits because it’s very important. And to earn the system benefits, you need at least 10 years on American territory. And some people aren’t exactly beneficiaries just because they don’t have enough credits.

People like this are mostly immigrants that come to the States when they are 50 years of age or older, and the other half have infrequent working years.

But they may get lucky because they can benefit from their spouses (in case they are married).

A senior man working in a modern professional studio environment.
A thoughtful man reviews his tablet in an office, considering the impact of his earnings on Social Security benefits.

7. You failed the social security earnings test

There are some early claimers that are still working to pass the Social Security earnings test in order to become eligible for the benefits. And let me tell you: if you reach the age of retirement, you can claim your benefits.

In 2021, the SSA retained $1 in benefits for every $2 earned over $19,000 in that year. But there is a forgiving monthly test for those who enter the year of retirement.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Share this article

Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Email

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

10 comments on “Some Retirees Won’t Get Great Social Security Benefits- Here’s 7 Reasons Why”

  1. richard lugenbeel says:
    August 17, 2023 at 1:42 pm

    my sister started working for NSA right after she got out of high school in 1964 until she retired in the late1990’s can she apply for social security she is 76 years old

    Reply
  2. Karen imparato says:
    January 25, 2023 at 9:35 pm

    Interesting story! I had such a great time reading this.

    Reply
  3. Emmanuel Brantley says:
    January 25, 2023 at 8:11 pm

    If my wife don’t have enough credits can she use some of mine to bring her up to the amount
    she need?

    Reply
  4. Donald Swanson says:
    January 25, 2023 at 2:53 pm

    Losing social security is a risk for all Americans. we reached budget limit. Yellen announced accounting trick to delay default until June. Yesterday she announced not reinvesting in govt retirement bonds. no plan on repayment, so this eliminates another year of social security. Medicare payments being delayed. Tell yellen and congress don’t use my social security to pay your bills. Cut military expenses. Stop developing new weapons that US can use to start more wars.

    Reply
  5. Phyllis Brooks says:
    November 4, 2022 at 4:01 pm

    Agree with Tamia. I get a federaal retirement. My husband retired from the Navy after 43 years after which he worked in the private sector for over 20 yrs. I can not get anything from Social Security based on his history.

    Reply
  6. Tamia says:
    October 2, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    Don’t forget the people who earned their 40 credits, but also worked under a state retirement plan. I get my state retirement, but no social security. Not even using my husband’s social security amount.

    Reply
  7. Kenneth Wolkon says:
    September 24, 2022 at 8:43 pm

    You neglect to mention those affected by the GPO and WEP issues that reduce or, in some cases, remove the Social Security benefits that should be paid.

    Reply
Se încarcă comentarii...

Nu mai există comentarii de afișat.

Search

Latest Posts

  • Smiling older couple carrying a potted tree toward their suburban home with a moving truck parked behind them. 20 of the Best Towns to Retire in 2027
  • Split highway leading toward a desert town with tax monoliths on the left and a lush green countryside on the right. 5 Mistakes Retirees Make When Moving to Save on Taxes
  • An older man speaks and gestures with open hands to a group of visitors in a historic stone courtyard with a fountain. 10 Side Gigs for Retirees Who Love Talking to People
  • Older man holding a phone with a grocery list inspects a red bell pepper beside his shopping cart in a grocery store. 7 Side Gigs Where Retirees Get Paid to Shop
  • Watercolor illustration of a senior couple riding a tandem bicycle laden with gear along a coastal path at sunset. 7 Retirement Surprises No One Warned Couples About
  • Glass greenhouse with fruit trees sheltered beneath colorful overlapping arches against stormy and sunny skies. 5 Absolutely Necessary Insurance Policies
  • A concerned older man holding a smartphone showing an incoming call from an unknown caller in a home hallway. 10 Signs a Social Security Caller Is Not Who They Claim to Be
  • An older man and a young female student holding a syllabus walk together along a sunlit college campus path. 12 Ways Grandparents Can Help Grandkids Save for College
  • Senior woman browsing fresh flowers at an outdoor street market with striped vendor tents and shoppers. Top 7 Retirement Destinations for Independent Seniors
  • Seniors walk along a landscaped stone courtyard outside a modern multi-story residential building near a water fountain. 10 Signs You’ve Found a Retirement Community Worth Joining

Newsletter

Get retirement tips and senior living advice delivered to your inbox.

Related Articles

An older couple sitting at a wooden kitchen table, collaboratively planning their budget with a notebook and a tablet showing a trend line.

The 2027 COLA Prediction Tracker: How to Watch the Numbers Before October’s Announcement

Track the 2027 Social Security COLA predictions and learn how inflation and rising Medicare premiums…

Read More →
job

5 Important Retirement Changes to Know About in 2023

Planning for retirement is definitely one of the most critical financial tasks most Americans have…

Read More →
Trump second term tariffs

5 Shocking Ways a Trump Second Term Could Impact Baby Boomer’s Finances

A thoughtful man gazes over his suburban neighborhood at dusk, contemplating how the next election…

Read More →
A retired couple smiling together while securely viewing their direct deposit accounts on a tablet in their sunlit kitchen.

Social Security Direct Deposit Changes You Need to Know About

Learn about recent Social Security direct deposit changes, security rules, payment schedules, and how to…

Read More →
Trump second term, seniors living on Social Security

Claiming Social Security Early: 8 Reasons Why You Should Do This

6. No One Else Is Counting On Your Benefits In case of your death, certain…

Read More →
Social Security changes coming in 2024

6 Social Security Changes Coming Next Year

6. Higher earnings test If you are still working after you have filled out your…

Read More →
A senior couple looking concerned while reviewing financial information on a laptop in a sunlit kitchen.

AI-Generated Tax Mistakes Everyone Should Know About

AI chatbots can make costly mistakes with retiree taxes. Learn about the "training lag," HSA…

Read More →
An ink and watercolor illustration of a happy senior couple reviewing papers together at a cozy dining table.

8 Programs Offering Free Tax Help to Seniors Regardless of Income Level

Discover 8 trustworthy tax assistance programs offering free tax help to seniors regardless of income…

Read More →
Man standing by a curbside mailbox opening an Annual Notice of Change envelope on an autumn suburban street.

8 Things to Do the Week Medicare Open Enrollment Opens

Maximize Medicare Open Enrollment with this 8-step first-week guide. Review the 2026 drug cap, check…

Read More →
Retired in USA

Your golden years are your best years! Make them shine!

Inedit Agency S.R.L.
Bucharest, Romania

contact@ineditagency.com

Trust & Legal

  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertiser Disclosure
  • FAQ
  • Subscribe
  • Unsubscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer
  • Do not sell my personal information
  • Request to Know
  • Request to Delete
  • CA Privacy Policy

Categories

  • Enjoying Retirement
  • Personal Finance
  • Saving & Spending

© 2026 Retired in USA. All rights reserved.