Tough Questions: Mixed Results from Our ‘Social Security IQ Quiz’
Category: Financial and taxes in retirement
Take the 2020 Social Security IQ Test! New questions and updated for 2020!
May 2, 2018 — Even though the average scores were quite low on last week’s Social Security IQ Quiz, there is still plenty of good news. Best of all, we are happy that so many people, over 2,000 and climbing, took the time to take it last week. It wasn’t easy, particularly with its occasionally tricky multiple choice options. But after having taken it, gotten a score, read the answers, and understanding why they were correct – a lot of people now have a better understanding of this critical retirement benefit. Hurrah!
In this article we are going to cover the highlights of the quiz and how our test takers did on it. We won’t go into the nuts and bolts of every answer, because we already provided all the correct answers and explanations at Your Social Security Quiz Results.
Overall scores
The average score on the quiz was 50%. Of the 2046 taking it as of
Comments on "Tough Questions: Mixed Results from Our ‘Social Security IQ Quiz’"
Jennifer says:
RE: Answer for Full retirement age for those born before 1955.
I was born in 1954 and my full retirement age is 66. The question about those born before 1955 needs to be rephrased. It is 67 for those born in 1959--not 1955. I checked the SSA website this very morning.
Admin says:
Jennifer, you are correct, FRA is 66 for those born before 1955. We slipped up and typed in the wrong answer here (now corrected here, it was OK in the complete answers post). Here is a chart of the Full Retirement Age for various ages.
and https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/retirechart.html
Mary11 says:
I felt bad I got a 77%....I feel better now...lol
Joyce says:
Greetings...I don’t know if anyone can advise me? I’m a widow of three weeks, currently abroad until June. I had to bury my husband here. No family member has come to help me, and we had no children. My husband had no pension, or life insurance, only social security. I don’t know where to turn. We’d just moved to Lexington,ky.........any suggestions, please?
Thank you.
Betsy says:
Joyce,
If you are over 60 you will get a SS widow's pension. I'm not sure if you get your DH's full amount at that time, but at some point you will receive the higher amount either his or yours. Not both.
I would go online to see what your next step is with SS.... you will probably need to supply his
death certificate, but I would not wait.
Hope this helps...and sorry for your loss.
Joyce says:
Betsy: Thank you so much. I’m currently in S. America.he died here, and I don’t yet have a death certificate. Between the plot and burial costs , I can’t yet pay the funeral home charges, no family is helping, but until I can do that, no certificate!....it’s complicated. He was so well and healthy. I spent two hours this morning with his doctors, and they couldn’t believe it. They were so kind to me, and immediately called in a psychiatrist to check me out......no charge.
I’ll follow your advice once back.....I’m dreading it, after 43 years, I’m not functioning properly yet......but I’ll get there. Thank you again. J
Jennifer says:
Joyce,
Be gentle with yourself. You are undergoing a lot of stress right now. Take it one hour at a time if necessary. Hopefully something will bring clarity to the situation. More of us need to be aware that this could happen, when I lived in Cairo, Egypt, I carried insurance to repatriate the bodies of myself and my husband should either of us die suddenly. It can be expensive to ship back the body of a loved one. My ex would have been happy to have been buried in Egypt since he had family there. He was much older than I and this issue was always on the horizon. Whatever we do, tomorrow is not guaranteed and it is best to be prepared.
Joyce says:
Jennifer.....thank you so very much. Your words have calmed me a little......he was so very healthy, and we’d decided to make a new will this summer, etc.......I’m so hazy, it’s driving me mad.......I’ve always been clear headed. Thank you.....j
Jennifer says:
Joyce, please keep us updated on your situation. Many of us will learn from what you are experiencing. I am hoping you have someone there for emotional support as you move on from day to day.
jean says:
Joyce, Condolences on your loss. If you are having difficulty with the death cert, perhaps this is something the US consulate in the country you are in can help or at least provide you with some guidance.
Joyce says:
Jean...Thank you....but I’ve been warned not to advise the embassy until I’m back in the US, or accounts will be blocked, even though joint.....also, here, it’s impossible to get a human on the phone, or even cancel appointments....I hace a techie try for me, and it’s not doable! It’s so frustrating. I’ve given up.
Jennifer says:
Joyce, when are you coming back to the US? Were you just visiting when this happened or were you living there? I am wondering how long it will take you to get the answers you need there or is it better to just come back home to work on it?
BE says:
Most of the questions were irrelevant to many. I would guess that most got the right answers to matters that specifically pertain to their own situation.
Jennifer says:
BE I agree, a more relevant quiz might be better and more informative.