Like many across Central Pennsylvania, you’ve spent years planning and saving for the day you can step away from the daily grind and finally enjoy retirement. Social Security plays a big role in that plan, and we get one chance to make the most of it.

Most Americans rely on Social Security to cover everyday expenses once their paychecks stop. However, knowing when and how to claim can feel overwhelming without the proper guidance.

At 1st Choice Financial Services, Inc., an independent retirement advisory firm in Camp Hill, we help individuals and families plan for retirement with confidence. 

This article provides practical tips, explores your options, and explains how working with a retirement planning specialist in Central Pennsylvania can help you get the most out of the system you’ve paid into for decades.

Understanding the Basics of Social Security

Social Security is a federal program in the U.S. designed to provide financial assistance to retirees, disabled individuals, and surviving family members of deceased workers. It is funded through payroll taxes and serves as a critical safety net to provide income stability during retirement or in times of need.

How Do You Qualify?

You generally need at least 40 work credits. Credits are earned based on your annual income from jobs or self-employment that pay into Social Security taxes. 

As of 2025, you get one credit for every $1,810 in earnings, up to four credits per year.

Most people reach 40 credits by working for about 10 years. Once you have enough credits, you keep them — they don’t expire, which means you can be eligible for retirement benefits when you reach the qualifying age.

When Can You Claim?

Your Full Retirement Age (FRA) is the age when you’re entitled to receive your full Social Security retirement benefit, based on your lifetime earnings. Your FRA depends on the year you were born — for example, it’s 66 if you were born between 1943 and 1954, and it gradually increases up to age 67 for those born in 1960 or later (see the SSA retirement age calculator here).

You can begin receiving benefits as early as age 62, but doing so before reaching your Full Retirement Age (FRA) results in a permanent reduction to your monthly payments, typically around 25% to 30%. 

Understanding how to optimize your Social Security is key to making smart decisions about when to claim and how it fits into your retirement goals. These rules apply the same way for everyone, including those planning retirement right here in Pennsylvania.

Strategies To Potentially Boost Your Social Security Benefits

Once you understand the basics, you may be able to take a few practical steps to help get the most from your Social Security benefits. Here are some key strategies to consider:

A. Delaying Social Security Benefits

If you can wait to claim benefits beyond your Full Retirement Age, you could potentially increase your monthly payment through Delayed Retirement Credits. These credits add about 8% per year for each year you wait, up to age 70. 

For many, waiting can mean a higher benefit for life, but this depends on your health, other retirement income, and how long you expect to rely on Social Security.

B. Maximizing Your Earnings Record

Your benefit amount is based on your highest 35 years of earnings. Working longer, or replacing low-earning years with higher-income years, may boost your final benefit calculation. 

It’s also wise to review your Social Security earnings record regularly for errors, so you don’t miss out on credit for income you earned.

C. Spousal and Survivor Benefits

Married couples may have additional options. A spouse may be able to claim a benefit based on their partner’s work record, up to 50% of the primary earner’s benefit at Full Retirement Age. If one spouse passes away, the surviving spouse may be eligible for survivor benefits. 

Generally, you must be married for at least one year to claim spousal benefits and nine months for survivor benefits, with some exceptions.

D. Understanding Taxation of Social Security Benefits

Depending on your combined income, you may have to pay federal income tax on part of your Social Security benefits. Coordinating how and when you draw from other accounts — such as pensions, traditional IRAs, and 401(k)s — can affect how much of your benefit ends up being taxable.

For example, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts can push your income higher in retirement, which might increase how much of your Social Security is taxed. With thoughtful planning, you may be able to time withdrawals or use tax-efficient strategies to help manage this impact.

The Role of a Retirement Advisor in Central Pennsylvania

Social Security may seem straightforward, but navigating the rules and integrating benefits into a broader retirement strategy can be surprisingly complex.

Many individuals in Central Pennsylvania find value in working with local independent retirement advisors like the 1st Choice Financial Services team, who understand how Social Security interacts with other income streams and tax considerations.

A dedicated retirement advisor may help you by providing:

• Personalized claiming strategies: Reviewing your unique situation to help you decide when and how to claim benefits.
• A big-picture approach: Combining Social Security planning with other income sources like pensions, 401(k)s, or IRAs.
• Local wealth management guidance: Tailored guidance in wealth management in Harrisburg and surrounding areas to support your retirement goals.
• Tax insights: Assisting you in understanding how Social Security benefits might affect your annual taxes and cash flow.

Independent retirement advisors strive to offer objective advice that matches your personal retirement planning goals and circumstances, not a one-size-fits-all strategy.

1st Choice Can Help With Social Security Optimization

Social Security is too important to leave to chance — with careful planning and local support, you can make every dollar count.

As experienced retirement advisors in Central Pennsylvania, 1st Choice Financial Services helps individuals and families in Harrisburg, Hershey, Halifax, Lancaster, Lebanon, Enola, Mechanicsburg, and surrounding areas understand their options and build a retirement plan that works for them.

Schedule a free consultation or visit our website to learn more about how we can help boost your Social Security and retirement planning in Pennsylvania. 

The commentary on this blog reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints and analyses of the author, Joe Deitrich, and should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC (“Foundations”), or performance returns of any Foundations client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security, or any security. Foundations manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Foundations deems reliable any statistical data or information obtained from or prepared by third party sources that is included in any commentary, but in no way guarantees its accuracy or completeness. 

This is not endorsed or affiliated with the Social Security Administration or any U.S. government agency.