Your Social Security Playbook: How Your Benefit is Calculated

From Retirement Answer Man by Roger Whitney, CFP®, CIMA®, RMA, CPWA®

September 9, 2026 · 38 min · Episode 660

About this episode

Roger Whitney explains how Social Security benefits are calculated and answers listener questions about various related topics.

How is your Social Security benefit actually calculated? In this episode, Roger explains how you qualify for retirement benefits, how your earnings history determines your benefit, and why the age you claim matters. Understanding these basics will help you recognize the areas where you have agency as you build your Social Security claiming strategy. Roger also answers listener questions about survivor benefits, estimating taxes in retirement, and coordinating spousal benefits. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN [00:00] Understanding the context behind your Social Security benefit PRACTICAL PLANNING: SOCIAL SECURITY PLAYBOOK [01:33] How you qualify for Social Security and how benefits are calculated [11:08] Reviewing your Social Security statement and understanding cost-of-living adjustments [15:30] Understanding your Social Security claiming age options LISTENER QUESTIONS [22:11] What Social Security resources are available for widows and widowers? [24:18] How to categorize income and expenses for tax planning [30:43] Can my husband switch from his own benefit to a spousal benefit? SMART SPRINT [33:39] Review your Social Security statement CLOSING THOUGHTS…

People in this episode

Host: Roger Whitney

Topics covered

Social Security benefits
retirement planning
claiming strategy
survivor benefits
tax planning
spousal benefits

Keywords

Social Security
retirement benefits
earnings history
claiming age
taxes in retirement
spousal benefits

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Social Security Administration, Open Social Security, Maximize My Social Security, Dinkytown, 1040 Tax Calculator