Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilac11
Who is not eligible for Social Security benefits at retirement? (after 65)
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People who haven't paid any FICA taxes because their wages are not subject to Social Security taxation, and who in addition do not qualify for spousal benefits based on a spouse's earnings record (e.g., who have never been married or whose spouse does not have an adequate earning record), are not eligible for SS retirment benefits.
One example of a class of people who do not pay Social Security taxes is California public school teachers. I was one, for 34 years. The law provides that in lieu of FICA taxes, we had 8% of our gross salary deducted and paid to the California State Teachers' Retirement System to help fund our pensions.
In my particular case, I had Social Security wages when I worked part-time jobs while in college and also when I worked moonlighting jobs during my teaching career (which were part-time and which I did not always have). Those part-time wages over the years were just enough to give me the forty quarters required to qualify for SS retirement benefits at a low level. My original SS amount at age 62 was something like $100 a month, and that is fine with me because I have my California teachers' pension which is more generous than Social Security.
A minor error in the forumlation of your question is the age given; we can elect to receive SS retirement benefits (if we qualify for them) after age 62, not age 65.
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