@novamc1 I know, it's really hard trying to decide about taking social security early.
My little sister and my brother both did that. Then they were locked in as to how much they could earn extra.
But my little sister was much younger than my brother, so she eventually went back to work. I don't know the ins and outs about how she was able to do that without getting penalized.
Here's something that I found that describes it better than I could.
https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/01/17/heres-how-much-money-the-average-senior-can-make-w...
This article was updated on April 13, 2018, and originally published on Jan. 17, 2016.
Because the average American's income has made little headway over the past decade and employers have shifted away from pensions, many Americans have fallen behind on their retirement savings goals.
As a result, more people are choosing to supplement their Social Security income by continuing to work than ever before. Working later in life can be a good income-boosting strategy, but there's a hitch. Social Security can withhold some of your Social Security income if you earn more than $17,040 in 2018.
I just think it's astounding that a person cannot make as much money as they need to take.
Here's how I found out about this rule. So my oldest daughter (who's normally up on everything and honestly doesn't make mistakes) pestered me to death to go to social security and start collecting my late husband's benefits.
So, I finally did. I remember the day like it was yesterday. It was actually the same day Prince the singer died. I was sitting in this huge room for hours waiting to be called.
I normally don't mind waiting. I always say, "I'm a mom of 3 girls who danced for 13 years. I've sat waiting for them through so many different dance practices....well..I'm used to waiting".
However, on this day and time there was absolutely no one and I mean no one in the place to talk to because they all spoke another language other than English. I moved seats as people would be called and tried to strike up conversations, but no one could understand me...so I sat, and sat, and sat.
This is the honest to goodness truth. I sat there for over (yes over 4 hours). Finally, I got called to go in the back. But before I did I found one wonderful lady to talk to. She had her youngest son with her and she was there about her 'assistance program' or something like that.
In other words I found out not everyone was there because specifically about social security...which I didn't know. This lady had (are you ready) she had 11 children. Ages 20 something to this little 5 year old.
She was so dear, well educated and explained her entire situation to me. I won't go into it here but by the time I finally got called I pretty much knew her life story. I didn't mind it at all. She just needed someone to talk to and so did I.
So, (are you still with me...if not ... I understand).
OK, so I go in and pulled out all of my husband's papers (i.e. death certificate, etc).
The clerk started writing everything down. She said, "Do you have any other income". I said, "Well, I have a lot of investments and they're all being handled by (and I told her the name of the investment company).
She stopped writing and she said, "You shouldn't be here."
I said, "Well, my daughter said I should get social security now".
She said, "I'll explain it this way. For every two dollars we pay you, you'll have to pay one dollar back". (I think that's what she said).
I said, "Why? I don't understand how that works."
She said, "With the interest from the investments it will far exceed the limit of what you're supposed to earn. The social security administration would " (and she started laughing) "giveth and taketh away".
She said, "Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to put in paperwork that shows you are withdrawing your request for early social security benefits. It will be as if you were never here".
As I walked out the room was entirely empty. The only person was a guard standing at the door waiting for me to leave so he could lock the doors".
It was a very weird feeling seeing a room with so many people cleared out so quickly.
So, a few days later I received a letter telling me that my application had been rescinded and there was nothing more for me to do.
A few years went by and I turned 70 one or two (whatever the age is) and I could make as much money as I wanted and not get penalized.
I just live off of the interest the investments make. So when you see the stock market going up...up and away...that's me smiling.
Every time I complain about the cost of health care and medicine to my broker he says..."that's money you're earning so stop complaining".
Hummm?? The good old American way. But you know what? When you grew up like I did, struggling to eat, etc. it never leaves you.
I've never forgotten the other side of things.
I remember telling the clerk that it's too bad those who don't need the social security money to live on couldn't donate it to something where you'd know absolutely it would be going to specifically help elderly who needed it to live.
OK, so I know that's not possible. The government would find a way to pee it away stupidly.
My daughter says, "Daddy paid into it Mom, you DESERVE it". I hate that word deserve anyway.
But you know what people? No matter how you cut it. The amount of money paid into social security isn't anywhere near the amount of money people actually get from social security. Especially if you have a person who lives for a very long time.
So, in some ways it's something the government does for people.
I feel that way about Medicare. I think if you can afford to pay your own health insurance you should have to pay it (if you have the money).
But unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. I asked if I could forgo Medicare when I first HAD TO SIGN up for it. And I was told, no, you have to sign up for it.
I was then a widow and paying $1,000 a month (way back) for health care. But I could afford it and would have kept it.
I just signed my middle daughter up for Obamacare in Florida. I'm paying for it every month. We had to get right under the wire of 2019 because my oldest said rules were changing and not for the good. (She has Crohns disease).
It's a lot of money but she needs health insurance.
I can't imagine other people trying to pay that.
Here we are all trying to deal with health care and just living a life worth living and there's so much "STUFF" going on that doesn't mean anything.
Sometimes I think even I could run the @#$% government better than it's being run....
And believe me...that's a really scary thought because half of the time (as grandma used to say)..."I don't know my ($ss from a hole in the ground).
Phew I'm exhausted and mentally depleted...I think I'll go get me a Tootsie Roll Pop. (my 'drug' of choice presently).
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. I mentioned other parts of the world because many think other countries have it all figured out (they don't) and the attitude of "you didn't plan well so don't look at me to feel for you" is everywhere as well. 
