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I use a desktop computer to log in. Not an app. But I have little need to go there except maybe look at what the next raise may be in October for 2026.

I logged in today and noticed they finally updated the numbers for next year.  Since I'll be eligible to start next July I've been itching to see what my disbursement will be (provided I elect to start at 62).

@mati_steve

Me too if only for comparison purposes with UK state pensions.

The set up is slightly different here in the UK. There is no early retirement option. Everyone gets the same state pension since 2017 once you hit the current retirement age of 66 (going up to 67 soon) providing you have made 35 years of National Insurance (NI) contributions which is a fixed amount and not dependent on earnings. The maximum amount this year payable is £11,973 (US$ 15,500) which the majority of retirees qualify for.

You can defer your state pension which is what I have done this year as I am still working and would lose half of it through tax if I did not. Retired people in the UK if still working at 66 do not have to pay social security (NI) contributions. 😀

I'm a little confused about the US system though. You can take early retirment at 62 but lose a % of your full state pension that would kick in at 67. Moreover your state pension is dependent on earnings contributions as I understand it. AI states that a US citizen aged 62 on median earnings gets about US$ 1,350 - US$ 1,400 which seems low to me. I remember 'Old Dog New Tricks' who retired at 62 stating his state pension is around US$ 21,000. AI states the Full  (67) median salary state pension is US$ 1,900 - US$ 2000 which is more generous than the UK state pension. Health care in UK (not Dentistry) is free at point of use whatever age you are and I understand that our American friends qualify for medicare on retirement but does this cover all medical (prescription costs etc) needs? If not then arguably US expats in the Philippines benefit from reduced health care costs unlike their British counterparts that have to , ahem, cough up.

@Lotus Eater

That's very interesting.  In the US, the full retirement (FRA) age is 67, but you can take it as early as 62.  I can't recall the percentage, but for every MONTH you take it before age 67, they knock off a percentage from the FRA value.  Conversely, you can delay taking it up until age 70 and for every YEAR you delay it beyond 67 you get an added percentage on top of your FRA value.  Of course these values change every year when they adjust for inflation (cough, cough, wink, wink).  At age 70, you HAVE to start taking retirement, if you haven't already done so - its called required minimum distributions (RMDs).  It's really a personal choice when to take it, though.

I've heard different numbers on the average the pensions are in the US anywhere from $1,600 to $1,900.  Of course it all depends on a myriad of factors what you'll get - how much you contributed, number of years, still working, spouse, etc.  I plan to take it as soon as I hit 62 for a number of reasons, mainly, because of the ever-increasing threat of it going insolvent in 2033-2034 (and rumors saying everyone's distribution will be reduced at least 30%).  I'd rather get as much as I can now instead of watching it whittle away later.

Yea, healthcare in the US is an abomination as far as costs go.  If you don't have some sort of insurance, an emergency can just about break your bank.  Forget it if its something major, like cancer or heart surgery.  It's a hot political topic so I'll just leave it at that.  I've a veteran (not retired, tho) and luckily I enrolled in the VA years ago when I was unemployed, so my healthcare is free (for the most part - I'm the lowest priority so I do have to pay a % of some costs).  I heard I can go to Guam if need be for anything VA related since there are no VA facilities in the PI (unless you have a service related disability, which I don't)  - it's definitely something I'll need to look into more.

. At age 70, you HAVE to start taking retirement, if you haven't already done so - its called required minimum distributions (RMDs).

At age 70 you are not required to start taking SSA distributions, but the amount you can get stops increasing after age 70.  RMD is from IRA or 401k or other similar taxable retirement programs, not Roth IRA.  The RMD does not start for people these days until they turn 73.

For early ss (62) there are some pitfalls. If you take SS at 62 during 2026 the maximum you can earn without givebacks is $24,800.

In my case I had turned 62 in April, by that time I had already earned surpassed the maximum allowed at the time, so for each $2 over I owed $1 back.

I could have save a lot of money, if I waited to the following  January. Also taking SS at 62 your amount is reduced 25% compared at the normal retirement age.

SS is out of control, at this moment 2.7 people who are working support one person on SS.

An example of SSDI, My first wife claimed SSDI after we were divorced. Our two minor children lived with me. One day SS checks arrived for them, I said WTF and went to the SS office to return the checks. Their explanation the children will keep getting checks until they reach the age of 18.

SS has expanded in so many ways, ways it was not intended for.

Another topic, expats who volunteer to opt out of Medicare in order to increase their SS check, cannot rejoin medicare without paying a huge penalty.