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Claiming Social Security early, and what happens if you work
Most folks probably know that by claiming your Social Security benefits early your benefits will be cut from what you would get by waiting until your full retirement age to apply. But many don’t really understand how substantial the cut will be, nor do they understand that if they continue to work and exceed Social Security’s annual earnings limit ($17,640 in 2019) their benefits will be further reduced. In this NJ.com article by Karin Price Mueller, the author explains the nuances of claiming Social Security early and how working could cause you to lose even more of your hard-earned Social Security benefits. Click here to read more.
If I am already receiving SS benefits, may I still apply for unemployment if I was fired from my fulltime job?
There is no restriction from Social Security for you to collect unemployment benefits at the same time you are collecting Social Security, so your SS benefits will not be affected by you collecting unemployment.
Unemployment insurance benefits, however, are managed by each state and each state’s rules apply as to whether your Social Security benefits affect your ability to collect state unemployment benefits. According to the State of Washington’s website, unemployment benefits are “not based on financial need”, so I do not think you collecting SS prevents you from applying for WA unemployment benefits. Here is a guide to WA’s Unemployment Insurance program: https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/basic-eligibility-requirements.
I suggest you proceed to apply for your WA unemployment benefits by contacting you state unemployment offices at 1- 800-318-6022.
Russell Gloor
Certified Social Security Advisor
The AMAC Foundation