What are Biggest Mistakes People Make with Social Security?
With so many ways to claim benefits, especially if you are married or were divorced at some point in your life, small mistakes can add up to a big difference in the amount of Social Security benefits you receive, says a recent article, “11 Social Security Mistakes That Can Cost You a Fortune” from Nasdaq. Here's a list of some of the biggest Social Security mistakes people make: 1. Not Reviewing Your Earnings Statement Annually Not checking your earnings record during your working life can add up to significant losses. Even if you’re decades away from claiming, you should check your earnings record annually since this is what Social Security benefits are based on, not the amount of taxes you or your employer(s) paid. You can create or log into a mySocial Security online account to gain information related to estimates for retirement, disability, and survivors benefits you and your family may be eligible for. Common mistakes include employers recording incorrect earnings or earnings not showing up because you changed your name and the name change wasn’t processed correctly. Check your statement annually to avoid losing the right number of benefits because of earnings record mistakes. If you see an…