How to retire at 55 with no money? (2024)

How to retire at 55 with no money?

If you retire with no money, you'll have to consider ways to create income to pay your living expenses. That might include applying for Social Security retirement benefits, getting a reverse mortgage if you own a home, or starting a side hustle or part-time job to generate a steady paycheck.

What happens if you have no money for retirement?

If you retire without any savings, you may have to live on Social Security alone. You might struggle to pay your bills in that situation.

Can you retire at 55 and collect Social Security?

However, you unfortunately cannot begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits at 55. The earliest age you can begin drawing Social Security retirement benefits is 62. But there's a catch. Taking Social Security benefits prior to reaching your full retirement age results in a reduction of your benefit amount.

How much money does a 55 year old need to retire?

How Much Money Do I Need to Retire at 55? On average, you'll need to have saved $1,051,814 to retire at 55 years old. This is based on the median earnings of Americans according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' October 2023 Current Population Survey in weekly earnings.

What of households over 55 have $0 saved for retirement?

Almost half (48%) of U.S. households headed by someone 55 or older have no retirement savings, according to U.S. Government Accountability Office's most recent estimates.

What do people with no retirement do?

"Given that most households cannot achieve the suggested financial targets, their best option is to work as long as possible — potentially to 70." Think of it more like phased retirement, instead of ending work completely, especially given how the current pandemic and recession are setting many older adults back.

How many people retire with no savings?

Nearly 2 in 5 Retirees Have No Retirement Savings

“There are also a plethora of social and economic variables that impact how Americans are able to accumulate wealth during their working years.

What are the rules for retiring at 55?

You must leave your job the calendar year you turn 55 or later. The rule of 55 doesn't apply if you left your job at, say, age 53. You can't start taking distributions from your 401(k) and avoid the early withdrawal penalty once you reach 55. However, you can apply the IRS rule of 55 if you're older and leave your job.

What is the 10 year rule for Social Security?

If you've worked and paid Social Security taxes for 10 years or more, you'll get a monthly benefit based on that work.

What is the average 401k balance for a 55 year old?

Average and median 401(k) balances by age
Age rangeAverage balanceMedian balance
35-44$76,354$28,318
45-54$142,069$48,301
55-64$207,874$71,168
65+$232,710$70,620
2 more rows
Mar 13, 2024

What benefits do I get when I turn 55?

Here's how getting older can save you money:
  • Senior discounts.
  • Travel deals.
  • Tax deductions for seniors.
  • Bigger retirement account limits.
  • No more early withdrawal penalty.
  • Social Security payments.
  • Affordable health insurance.
  • Senior services.

What is a good monthly retirement income?

Average Monthly Retirement Income

According to data from the BLS, average 2022 incomes after taxes were as follows for older households: 65-74 years: $63,187 per year or $5,266 per month. 75 and older: $47,928 per year or $3,994 per month.

What is the rule of 55?

What Is the Rule of 55? Under the terms of this rule, you can withdraw funds from your current job's 401(k) or 403(b) plan with no 10% tax penalty if you leave that job in or after the year you turn 55. (Qualified public safety workers can start even earlier, at 50.)

What are the disadvantages of retiring at 55?

The cons of early retirement include:
  • Years of no income.
  • A potential health insurance crunch.
  • A loss of meaning.
  • Feelings of loneliness.
Aug 4, 2023

What if I haven't saved for retirement at 50?

If you didn't make saving for retirement a priority early in life, it's not too late to catch up. At age 50, you can start making extra contributions to your tax-sheltered retirement accounts (called catch-up contributions). Younger workers can only contribute $23,000 to their 401(k)s and $7,000 to their IRAs in 2024.

How much money do most people have in the bank when they retire?

Average retirement savings balance by age
Age groupAverage retirement savings balance amount
35-44$141,520
45-54$313,220
55-64$537,560
65-74$609,230
1 more row
Mar 5, 2024

How do I retire if I don't own a house?

Renting may make sense if you're an empty nester, ready to downsize, or unsure of where you'll spend your retirement years. You may want to move away for better weather or a lower cost of living for some years, but also be easily able to move closer to your family later on.

What is the average Social Security check?

Social Security offers a monthly benefit check to many kinds of recipients. As of December 2023, the average check is $1,767.03, according to the Social Security Administration – but that amount can differ drastically depending on the type of recipient. In fact, retirees typically make more than the overall average.

Can you retire with no Social Security?

If you hope to retire without Social Security, you'll probably need to save $1 million or more on your own. Making monthly retirement contributions is key to achieving that goal. But most people don't need to plan for a retirement without Social Security because the program will still be around in some form.

How many Americans live paycheck to paycheck?

A majority, 65%, say they live paycheck to paycheck, according to CNBC and SurveyMonkey's recent Your Money International Financial Security Survey, which polled 498 U.S. adults. That's a slight increase from last year's results, which found that 58% of Americans considered themselves to be living paycheck to paycheck.

What is the least amount of money you need to retire?

Some experts say to have at least eight to 10 times your annual salary available to you once you enter retirement. Others say you need at least 65% to 80% of your pre-retirement income available to you each year. There are also general savings recommendations by age, and, finally, there's the 4% rule, too.

Do most retirees have a mortgage?

In 2022, researchers found that just over 40 percent of homeowners older than 64 had a mortgage, a jump from roughly 25 percent a generation ago.

Can I take early retirement at 55 and still work?

You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time before your full retirement age. However your benefits will be reduced if you earn more than the yearly earnings limits.

Do married couples get 2 Social Security checks?

If you are married and you and your spouse have worked and earned enough credits individually, you will each get your own Social Security benefit.

When my husband dies do I get his Social Security and mine?

In many cases, a surviving spouse can begin receiving 1 benefit at a reduced rate and allow the other benefit amount to increase. If you will also receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security, such as government or foreign work, your Social Security benefits as a survivor may be affected.

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