Guiding You to a Secure Retirement

Use the redesigned Social Security statement to maximize your benefits.

- SANDRA BLOCK

Although most near-retirees know almost to the penny how much they've saved for retirement, many have only a vague idea of how much they'll receive when they file for Social Security benefits. That's not surprising, because numerous factors will affect how much you'll receive from Social Security, including when you file, your earnings record and even the type of job you had while you were working.

But even if you've accumulated a substantial nest egg, Social Security will probably represent a significant slice of your retirement income-about 33% for the average retiree, according to the Social Security Administration. Forty percent of retirees rely on Social Security for all of their retirement income, according to the National Institute for Retirement Security.

Estimating your monthly benefits will help you determine how much you'll need from your savings and other sources to cover your living expenses in retirement. You'll also be in a better position to decide whether you can afford to retire or should postpone it for a couple of years.

To get an estimate of your benefits, set up an online account at www.ssa .gov/myaccount. Once you've set up your account, you can get a copy of your Social Security statement, which is available to all workers who pay Social Security taxes on their wages. In 2021, Social Security redesigned the statement to make it more user-friendly. The redesigned statement more is shorter than its predecessor-two pages instead of four-with charts and graphs designed to give you a better picture of the benefits you and your family are eligible to receive each month.