On 7/26/2025 at 8:30 AM, Tedly said:

I'm in that situation too, I can't get into the website with the new system to log in. I still have an American phone number but my American driver's license which they need a photo of to register with the new system, is expired so that won't work, can't use a passport. Every document they call for are ones I can't produce, it's frustrating, just have to hope I never need to get on the website. I didn't get the "are you still alive" letter yet this year which has me a little concerned as I'm sure I was getting them in June until this year.

It’s my understanding that the letters are not sent out every year, as I also receive one around this time but haven’t yet. I guess as long as the monthly payments roll in, all is well. 

5 hours ago, SamSanuk said:

It’s my understanding that the letters are not sent out every year, as I also receive one around this time but haven’t yet. I guess as long as the monthly payments roll in, all is well. 

some countries are every other year, Thailand is yearly

As someone else indicated, the "break even" point is typically reported as around 80, but those calculations do not include the time value of money, and what your actual net worth would be if you invested that money each month. If you have a traditional IRA, you can spend your SS and convert about $40K a year of your IRA to a Roth IRA and avoid the taxes. 

 

I started drawing at 62, and my investments have done pretty well in the last five year. Without SS, I would have had to draw more of that down, and I would have been taxed. I think SS is typically taxed at a lower rate than IRA withdrawals. 

 

If you have a minor child, they also draw half of your benefit until they are 18.