Essential Guide: Claim Social Security Now With $500k Saved

The exact point at which you should claim Social Security will depend on your specific financial situation. But one of the factors to consider is how much you have in your retirement savings accounts.

It’s important to consider how much your cushion will get whittled down over time as you cover living expenses and inflation eats away at your savings. Social Security can help, but it’s crucial to balance the 401(k) with a strategic claiming window. Here’s how to think about your claiming timeline if you have around $500,000 in your 401(k).

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The income math

A typical rule of thumb when it comes to withdrawals in retirement is to withdraw 4% of your savings portfolio, then adjust that amount for inflation in the following years. Using that common framework with a $500,000 portfolio only yields $20,000 per year, or $1,667 per month. That type of income doesn’t put most people in a position to leave their job.

Social Security can help, with the average benefit for retired workers reaching around $2,089 per month in September. That can bring total monthly income to around $3,756, which may still not be enough for many people. Your anticipated retirement budget and whether you have fully paid off your mortgage or other debt at this point will be decisive in determining if that’s enough to retire.

Waiting to access Social Security may make more sense than tapping into the government benefits as soon as you’re able, since you can secure higher checks the longer you wait until age 70.

The bridge strategy

The bridge strategy involves living off the 401(k) and other savings and investment accounts for a few extra years before tapping into Social Security. This approach results in a higher monthly benefit, but it drains your nest egg faster.

Once you take out Social Security, you can lean more heavily into the checks and potentially even reduce the withdrawal rate for your nest egg. Again, the strategy that makes most sense for you will depend on your specific situation. If you can, speak to a financial advisor when deciding when to claim Social Security.

Who should claim sooner?

Although you get the highest possible benefit at age 70, that’s not the route everyone should take. People who are in poor health or have shorter family life expectancies may want to consider taking out Social Security early. It can also make sense to claim Social Security early if you prefer to protect your 401(k) and allow it to keep growing over time.

Claiming Social Security early reduces your lifetime government checks, but it also provides more financial flexibility in the present. Immediate space in your budget may be more valuable than waiting a few years or draining your 401(k), especially during a market correction.

Don’t forget to consider taxes. A portion of your Social Security may be eligible for taxation, and retirement accounts face different tax treatments depending on the type of account they are.

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