Program Descriptions

Social Security Retirement

Social Security benefits are the foundation on which you can build a secure retirement. The three major elements of your retirement portfolio are:

• benefits from pensions,
• savings and investments, and
• Social Security benefits.

Most financial advisors say you'll need about 70 percent of your pre-retirement earnings to comfortably maintain your pre-retirement standard of living. If you have average earnings, your Social Security retirement benefits will replace only about 40 percent. The percentage is lower for people in the upper income brackets and higher for people with low incomes. You'll need to supplement your benefits with a pension, savings or investments.

To help you plan for retirement, each year the Social Security Administration sends you your personal Social Security Statement, which gives you an estimate of the monthly benefit amounts you and your family may qualify for now and in the future. If you've received your Social Security Statement and have questions about it, visit the My Statement website.