I think it should be done away with the fact that a spouse can draw on a divorced spouses work history.  I am now a retired teacher who had 5 children and am drawing a very small SS check each month.  I recently heard that my ex husband who is an alcoholic is drawing SS.  I wondered how this might be when he never worked.  Before getting my teaching license I worked in a factory and would look out the window at his car sitting in front of a local bar.  He was drinking more than I had earned in wages.  I had to hide the rent money.  I also had 5 of his children.  He was abusive and placed me in the hospital several times.  I hid and saved money to buy our first Christmas Tree the year my father was in VA Hospital dying of Cancer.  I decorated the tree and went to spend time with my father.  When I returned he was drunk and angry because I was gone to long.  He took me and tree and threw us out the door.  This is but a few of the tragic events that took place over our just short of 10 year marriage. He owed over $100,000 in child support.  I am appauld to think that this same man, still an alcoholic is using my working years as his retirement.  I don't know for sure but since he never worked to pay into SS how else could he be drawing SS.

I think that the SS law should state that if you did not take care of your children than you can not draw on your spouses SS who worked all her life and did take care of them.

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At what age to start collecting SS is a numbers game.  If you had a crystal ball which let you know when you were going to pass, it would be easy to figure out.  Also you need to factor in quality of retirement life - some believe to take it at 62 and live a little while you are still physically able.  Usually by then your mortgage is paid off which is usually one of the biggest expenses in a budget (which would make up the $ difference in SS payments.  Also, hopefully, you have been putting away $ in some sort of retirement fund which you can draw from @ age 59 1/2 with no penalty.

However, there is something to be said about waiting to full retirement age if its about money.  And some people like to work, especially if they are doing what they love.  Working gives a person self worth.   Another alternative is closer to retirement start a career you always wanted to do or semi retire by starting a small business out of your home or garage.  How fun! 

If we want the system to last, we need to think long and hard about who receives benefits. If you never paid in, you should not receive benefits. My mother-in-law recieved benefits and never worked a day. She then received my father-in-laws benefits when he passed. They should not have not gotten two checks with only one wage earner.

What about the people who come to this country and immediately apply for benefits no.. If you don't pay in, you should not qualify. And what about the undocumented ughhhh. If you receive disability benefits because you are drug or alcohol abuser.... no. Come on, we have lots of people who need those benefits. Minor children or adults who are truly disabled should be cared for. 

Most comments aside, thanks for this info... fairly concise and helpful! [yes, nearly 50% of US spending budget going to 'entitlements' (SS pension, Health Care, and Welfare) is an eye-opener -- and triggers a spectrum of comments (witness below)].

Can you help on these questions:

Regarding your page6 'spousal benefit' segment -- as a function of age, what is the percentage decrease increments between 66 (full retirement age) down to the age 60 limit?

I can't find (internet search) a graph of number of male SS pension recipients versus recipients age... is this 'confidential' SS data?

And thanks again.

There are two sides of any story!  I do argee that SS benefits... more than is abused! 

What about the single Mothers who were nevr married + what do their children get???

This Government has plenty of $$$....I say the children should get all the benefits that this government can give because the children are our future~~~