How can someone only get 1k for social security ?

[Anonymous]

How can someone only get 1k for social security ??
68 year old. Did they not work? not shaming just wondering if my neighbor isn't lying how can they only get $1,000 of social security?

[Anonymous]

It’s based on earnings and service credits. Either low paid or minimally employed during their working years or both.

[Anonymous]

^Also, may have been in a municipal or federal job where they get a pension but did not contribute to SS.

[Anonymous]

or they got paid cash / off the books and did not contribute to SS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can someone only get 1k for social security ??
68 year old. Did they not work? not shaming just wondering if my neighbor isn't lying how can they only get $1,000 of social security?

I will get that at 62. My investment income and money from real estate sales did not contribute toward my SS. Also, there were at least three different restaurants that did not give me a paycheck. This meant that nobody was paying into Social security.
I do have the credits finally. My highest earned year according to SS is $40k couple of years ago.

[Anonymous]

Is this a serious question? My mom worked her whole life. She’s 72. Her social security is $1,120 a month. I don’t know a single person who is expecting very much SS income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a serious question? My mom worked her whole life. She’s 72. Her social security is $1,120 a month. I don’t know a single person who is expecting very much SS income.

Same with my dad. I think he’s a little higher around $1500 but still. He worked full time on the books from 16-65.

[Anonymous]

They also could have been on disability. My mil was that low when it changed from disability to social security.

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher. I have always worked full time. I think the last time I looked, I will only get ~1200. I will probably qualify for more as 1/2 of my spouses income rather than my own.

[Anonymous]

They may have also started taking it at 62, which means a very reduced amount compared to 67 or 70.

I will take it at 70 (8 more years) and it will be something like $4800/month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a serious question? My mom worked her whole life. She’s 72. Her social security is $1,120 a month. I don’t know a single person who is expecting very much SS income.

Was she making under $50 k ?

[Anonymous]

What about a Fed’s SS? Presumably, it could be up to 3k-4k. How wildly wrong am I?

[Anonymous]

OP, you need to get out of your bubble.

[Anonymous]

I get about $1600, I retired at 65 with my highest income at around 55K from a special ed para job. I also have a $1300 pension from that job. I worked full time at various jobs since age 18 except for ten years as a SAHM. I'm living just fine on that income. Medicare and my gap policy pay all my medical costs after I pay the $226 Medicare deductible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a serious question? My mom worked her whole life. She’s 72. Her social security is $1,120 a month. I don’t know a single person who is expecting very much SS income.

I think some people have an unrealistic idea of how much social security they will receive. I cant tell you how many people I know that believe they will receive max social security when they never hit wages to pay in the max. In 2023 that amount is over $160k.