Common Social Security Questions

1. Can I work and still collect Social Security?

Yes, you may be able to work and collect Social Security benefits, but it depends on several factors — including your age, how much you earn, and the type of income you receive.

Before reaching full retirement age, there are earnings limits that may temporarily reduce your benefit if you exceed them. Once you reach full retirement age, you can work and earn income without any reduction to your Social Security benefit.

It’s also important to understand how continued work can impact your future benefit amount, potential increases, and cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Life circumstances can change — whether you return to work, increase your hours, or shift from part-time to full-time — and those changes should be considered as part of your overall Social Security strategy.

2. Will Social Security still be there for me?

This is a common concern, and one that’s often misunderstood. Social Security is primarily funded through payroll taxes, with 6.2% of earnings contributed by employees (and matched by employers). It is also supported through taxation of benefits and interest on trust fund investments.

Social Security operates as a pay-as-you-go system, meaning current workers fund current beneficiaries. Even if no changes are made, projections indicate that Social Security would still be able to pay approximately 80% of scheduled benefits beyond the projected depletion date.

Historically, when funding concerns have arisen — such as in the early 1980s — adjustments were made to extend the program’s longevity. For this reason, many experts believe Social Security will continue in some form well into the future.

3. Can I claim Social Security benefits on my ex-spouse?

You may be eligible to claim benefits on an ex-spouse’s record, but eligibility depends on several factors, including:

Length of the prior marriage
Whether you are currently remarried
How long you’ve been divorced
Your own benefit amount compared to the spousal benefit

Because these rules can be complex, a personalized review is often the best way to determine which benefit you may be entitled to and when claiming makes the most sense.

4. Can my spouse claim benefits even if they never worked?

Yes, in many cases a spouse may be eligible to receive benefits based on their spouse’s work record — even if they did not qualify for benefits on their own record.

Timing is especially important. Spousal benefits generally cannot be collected until the primary worker has claimed their own benefit. Decisions about when to claim can impact:

The amount of the spousal benefit
How long benefits are received
Future survivor benefits if one spouse outlives the other

These decisions can have long-term implications and should be evaluated carefully.

5. Should I take my Social Security benefits early and invest them?

This is a common question, but for many individuals, claiming Social Security early in order to invest the benefits may not be the most effective strategy.

Delaying Social Security benefits can result in approximately 8% annual increases for each year benefits are delayed beyond full retirement age, in addition to cost-of-living adjustments — even while you are not collecting. This increase can be significant over time and may also enhance spousal and survivor benefits.

Because each situation is different, it’s important to evaluate this decision within the context of your overall retirement income plan.

Frequently Asked Questions