Understanding Social Security is one of the most important aspects of retirement income for The Southern Company employees and retirees. Social Security is typically viewed as a supplement to retirement income. It should never be the sole source of income, but it can be helpful in dire circumstances. A family facing obstacles such as the death of a spouse, disability, divorce, or children/parents who are financially dependent should be aware of the benefits to which they may be entitled to alleviate their financial strain.

According to a report by the Social Security Administration, as of 2021, Social Security benefits accounted for about 33% of the total income of elderly beneficiaries aged 65 and older. This highlights the importance of Social Security as a significant source of income for retirees and emphasizes the need for comprehensive retirement planning to ensure financial security in retirement.

How then do family benefits operate? In general, you will receive either a percentage of your Social Security benefit, the full value of your Social Security benefit, or a maximum benefit per family. To illustrate the distinction, let's examine some frequently asked queries from The Southern Company employees and retirees.

This is a query we frequently receive from The Southern Company employees and retirees, and with good reason. Yes, benefits are available to couples who have been married for at least one year. The utmost amount they can collect is 50 percent of the Primary Insurance Amount, also known as Full Retirement Age, if they wait until their own Full Retirement Age, or a reduced amount beginning at age 62. 1

Answer: Yes. If you were married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years, he or she is currently unmarried and at least 62 years old. You are eligible for the same benefits as a current spouse. 1

Working with a large number of The Southern Company employees and retirees has revealed a great deal of concern regarding the impact of mortality on the financial security of the family. As a consequence, this question comes up quite a bit. There are two aspects of the answer to consider. Yes. Your unmarried dependent children under the age of 18, or 19 if attending a primary or secondary school, or disabled as long as the disability occurred before the age of 22, are eligible to receive 75% of their deceased parent's PIA, up to a maximum family benefit. If you are providing for a child under the age of 16, your spouse is eligible to receive up to 75 percent of the PIA, up to a maximum per family.

In this circumstance, the family has immediate access to Social Security to supplement their income. Second, a widower can access the Social Security benefit of their deceased spouse at age 60. This is two years sooner than the standard spouse benefit. As with any early receipt of Social Security benefits, the full benefit will be subject to a reduction. 1

This is an additional worry for many The Southern Company employees and retirees with children. Yes, the eligibility requirements are the same as if you were deceased. The only difference would be that your children could only obtain 50% of your PIA. 1

Answer: Yes. Assuming you are deceased, and you provided more than 50 percent of their support prior to your death, your dependent parents are eligible to receive benefits from your record. This is the least prevalent available family benefit. 1 It is essential to keep in mind that a family member receiving Social Security benefits on your record will not reduce the number of benefits you are entitled to receive.

Applying for the benefits to which you and your family are entitled can generate significant income for your family and alleviate the financial strain that a life-altering event may cause. Over the years, we've spoken with numerous The Southern Company employees and retirees, and we've learned that every situation is unique. We can help you determine when and how to apply for your Social Security benefits with the assistance of our professional financial advisors.

Understanding Social Security and its family benefits is like having a well-crafted safety net for your retirement journey. Just as a skilled mountaineer carefully prepares their equipment before embarking on a challenging climb, The Southern Company employees and retirees should equip themselves with knowledge about Social Security's family benefits. Think of Social Security as a versatile toolset, offering various ropes and harnesses to support you and your loved ones during unexpected twists and turns. Just as a climber relies on their ropes to provide stability and security, Social Security can provide a reliable supplement to your retirement income and offer relief during difficult circumstances like the loss of a spouse, disability, divorce, or financial dependence. It's important to explore the different ropes available, such as spousal benefits, benefits for ex-spouses, and benefits for dependent children and parents. By understanding how these ropes work, you can navigate the retirement mountain with confidence, knowing that you and your family are supported along the way.

The Retirement Group is a nation-wide group of financial advisors who work together as a team.

We focus entirely on retirement planning and the design of retirement portfolios for transitioning corporate employees. Each representative of the group has been hand selected by The Retirement Group in select cities of the United States. Each advisor was selected based on their pension expertise, experience in financial planning, and portfolio construction knowledge.

TRG takes a teamwork approach in providing the best possible solutions for our clients’ concerns. The Team has a conservative investment philosophy and diversifies client portfolios with laddered bonds, CDs, mutual funds, ETFs, Annuities, Stocks and other investments to help achieve their goals. The team addresses Retirement, Pension, Tax, Asset Allocation, Estate, and Elder Care issues. This document utilizes various research tools and techniques. A variety of assumptions and judgmental elements are inevitably inherent in any attempt to estimate future results and, consequently, such results should be viewed as tentative estimations. Changes in the law, investment climate, interest rates, and personal circumstances will have profound effects on both the accuracy of our estimations and the suitability of our recommendations. The need for ongoing sensitivity to change and for constant re-examination and alteration of the plan is thus apparent.

Therefore, we encourage you to have your plan updated a few months before your potential retirement date as well as an annual review. It should be emphasized that neither The Retirement Group, LLC nor any of its employees can engage in the practice of law or accounting and that nothing in this document should be taken as an effort to do so. We look forward to working with tax and/or legal professionals you may select to discuss the relevant ramifications of our recommendations.

Throughout your retirement years we will continue to update you on issues affecting your retirement through our complimentary and proprietary newsletters, workshops and regular updates. You may always reach us at (800) 900-5867.

1. What to do with an Early Retirement Ebook

2. Social Security Ebook

3. Lump Sum vs. Annuity Ebook

4. 401(k) Rollover Strategies Ebook

5. Closing the Retirement Gap Ebook

1. What to do with an Early Retirement Ebook

2. Social Security Ebook

3. Lump Sum vs. Annuity Ebook

4. 401(k) Rollover Strategies Ebook

5. Closing the Retirement Gap Ebook

6. Stern.NYU.edu, 2021

7. S&P 500 return includes price appreciation and reinvestment of dividends. Treasury bond return includes coupon and price appreciation. Treasury bill return is a three-month rate. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indexes are not available for direct investment. Historical performance does not reflect taxes and fees associated with the management of an actual portfolio.

8. Gains and Losses: What Are Your Prospects For A Successful Project, 2020

9. This example is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an actual investment or combination of investments. Annual contributions are made at the beginning of the compounding period. This hypothetical example does not reflect taxes or any fees. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.