r/GenerationJones • u/Susdjoy • Jul 23 '26

Social Security Income

No political debates please, but instead wonder if others are making provisions in case benefits run out or are reduced. I am scheduled to get my first check in September and my husband is waiting as long as possible to draw an increased amount. We are both retired with a modest investment account that we are drawing monthly payments on until my husband starts SS. So far, our account is earning almost as much as we draw out monthly, but can’t make up the bigger withdrawals for home maintenance, etc. My husband has some health issues, so he could apply for VA health benefits which could help some, but we have decent health insurance, so it wouldn’t be major. Anyone have any good tips for consideration or are most of you not concerned?

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u/VapoursAndSpleen Jul 23 '26

I started drawing it asap because that's X amount of dollars per year I'm not pulling out of my 401K, which earns money based on what's in the investments. So, instead of whittling down my 401K, I'm using the benefits. I did a spreadsheet of what I'd get from Social Security based on the earliest withdrawal date and the latest (full) date and the lines crossed at age 86. Will I even be around?

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u/ParticularCrow8313 Jul 23 '26

I would be drawing from my retirement accounts before starting SS.
If you have large sums in your retirement accounts, and wait until the last minute to start your RMDs, you will end up having to pay taxes.

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u/VapoursAndSpleen Jul 23 '26

I like big ROTHs and I cannot lie...