Some people have big changes to social security. What to expect.

There are major changes in social security and they have questions.

My recent columns attracted thousands of comments that largely focused on three major topics: fear of delayed checks and crumbling customer service at the social security authority, Roth conversion to tax pension accounts and heartbreaking explanations of why the submission of services is not always a question of choice.

The Trump administration has made considerable and controversial changes, including massive cuts in the staff and the field that restrict the telephone service. And considerably increases significantly with the amount of the beneficiaries of social security, which receive overpayments. These changes affect the almost 74 million seniors and disabled workers who are currently receiving benefits, and the millions more to do.

If you delay the advantages of your FRA up to the age of 70, you earn pension loans. These rise to an increase of 8% per year until they have reached 70 when the credits stop deciding.

In terms of its pensions, the age muscle is real. For many employers, 62 is the limit for work and 58 for hiring, according to an analysis of the Tranamerica Center for Retirement Studies.

According to a new survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, almost half of the employees are expected to expect over 67 years old over 62.

Most pensioners – 3 in 5 – report that, according to the impartial employees of the employee institute (EBII), they retired as 65 years at the age of 62.

I retired when I was 60, but I started my social security with 70. Between these two points I made the IRA into Roth conversions. I am now in my 70s and my entire income is tax -free and I have no minimum releases every year. My retired friends, who started with 62 social security, have all the problems to make ends meet. Some had to get part -time jobs. I have no financial worries.

The minimization of future taxes in retirement is a benefit that many people do not take into account in their age decision.

Learn more: Do you pay taxes on social security?

If you are worried about higher tax rates in the future, Roth Conversions can be a good solution for some people.

A conversion is if you shift the assets from a traditional IRA or 401 (K) to a Roth IRA. You pay taxes on the funds you have moved, but as soon as your money is invested in Roth IRA, it becomes tax -free and can be picked up tax -free in retirement.

For most people, it is best to manage this with a number of smaller annual conversions in order to keep their immediate tax burden manageable. Remember that Roth -Conversions are permanent. If you want the conversion for your tax year 2025, you must complete it by December 31.

Do you have a question about retirement? Personal finances? A little career? Click here to drop Kerry Hannon with a note.

Let us now turn to your comments that the cuts in the customer service of the social security management. There was mud of it. Here are a handful.

Gee, who would have thought Eliminate telephone service While at the same time the exterior offices close and add additional review steps, you may have made things difficult for seniors to access your social security benefits? It took a turmoil to withdraw it.

And this comment:

The idea that every agency that is accessible by phone is revised – crazy. If you ever had to deal with SSA or the IRS, you know how long waiting times are. You can’t even get through on some days. You need more employees, not less.

One more thing:

Where I live, the closest social security office is more than four hours of trip. Better customer service is particularly required in remote areas. A good telephone service is required for some, but the improvement of the online service would also benefit most people.

The Trump government’s actions at SSA are already seniors who have flooded the 800 SSA number to get an increase in a 25% jump in April a year ago in April. There were service failures and longer waiting times.

Although the social security management has subjected its plan to reduce the telephone service due to the counter reaction, the situation is still bad.

“Doge has already taken steps to eliminate 7,000 jobs at SSA, and reports reportedly plans for additional layoffs and cuts,” said Kathleen Romig, director of social security and disability policy at the left-wing center for budget and political priorities, Yahoo Finance. “The staff lowers so quickly and these deep applicants and favored social security damage inevitably and force them to wait longer for the service.”

What should seniors expect to get ahead?

The experts I talked to are at least initially not optimistic about what is ahead of us.

“While the Congress can technically lead the SSA, how to spend part of your administrative budget, including the personnel department, to counter what has happened on the basis of Doge decisions, this is unlikely,” said Jason Fichtner, Managing Director of the Retirement Income Institute at the Allianz for Lifelong Income, which is in several positions in the Administration of Lifes worked in several positions.

“Since the SSA employees were reduced, while the agency was already working on inadequate support levels and computer systems that have to modernize, continued service delays and construction brackets are probably added.

Kerry Hannon is a senior columnist at Yahoo Finance. It is a career and age strategy and author of 14 books, including the upcoming “Pension bites: a gene x guide to secure your financial future,” “In control over 50+: How you are successful in the new world of work “ And “never too old to get rich.” Follow your Bluesky.

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