[CSSCS] Certified Social Security Claiming Strategist Exam

Module 1: Social Security Foundations & History

The Social Security Act of 1935

Legislative origins and evolution of the program.

The Social Security Trust Funds: Funding mechanisms and long-term sustainability.

Key Regulatory Amendments

Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act of 2000.

2010 Amendment to Payback Provisions.

Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (Elimination of specific "File and Suspend" strategies).

Social Security Fairness Act.

Eligibility and Insured Status

Definition of "Fully Insured" vs. "Currently Insured" status.

Quarters of Coverage (Credits) calculation and requirements.

Employees and sectors not covered by Social Security.

Module 2: Benefit Calculations & Core Concepts

Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)

Calculating Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME).

The "Bend Point" formula and its role in benefit weighting.

Recalculating PIA based on additional earnings post-retirement.

Retirement Age Mechanics

Full Retirement Age (FRA) tables based on birth year.

Reductions for early filing (starting at age 62).

Delayed Retirement Credits (DRC) and increases up to age 70.

Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs)

How COLAs are determined and applied to monthly benefits.

Module 3: Spousal, Divorced, and Survivor Benefits

Spousal Benefit Rules

Eligibility requirements and the "Marriage Rule" (one-year duration).

Calculating the spousal 50% benefit and impact of early filing.

Deemed Filing rules and their exceptions.

Divorced Spouse Benefits

The 10-year marriage requirement and current marital status impacts.

Independently Entitled Divorced Spouses.

Widow(er) and Survivor Benefits

Eligibility for surviving spouses, children, and dependent parents.

Calculating survivor benefits (100% of the deceased worker’s benefit).

Impact of the "Blackout Period" on survivor income planning.

Family Maximum Benefits

Formula for the maximum total monthly benefit payable on one record.

Module 4: Technical Provisions & Constraints

The Retirement Earnings Test (RET)

Annual earnings limits for beneficiaries under FRA.

Calculating the forfeiture amount ($1 for $2 or $1 for $3).

The "Grace Year" special rule for the first year of retirement.

Adjustment to the Reduction Factor (ARF) at FRA to recover forfeited benefits.

Taxation of Benefits

Calculating Combined Income (Provisional Income).

Thresholds for 0%, 50%, and 85% federal income taxation.

State-specific taxation of Social Security benefits.

Special Provisions

The "Do-Over" option: Rules for withdrawing an application within 12 months.

Backdating payments: Rules and timing considerations.

Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).

Module 5: Advanced Claiming Strategies & Integration

Strategy Frameworks

The "File and Take" vs. "Start, Suspend, Restart" approaches.

Restricted Application rules (for those born before Jan 2, 1954).

Coordinating benefits for dual-income couples.

Longevity and Break-Even Analysis

Actuarial considerations and health-status impact on claiming age.

Calculating the "Break-Even Age" for delaying benefits.

Retirement Income Coordination

Integrating Social Security with 401(k)/IRA withdrawal sequences.

Managing the "Tax Torpedo" effect on retirement portfolios.

Medicare Basics for Strategists

Medicare Part A & B eligibility and enrollment periods.

The impact of IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) on high-income beneficiaries.

Module 6: Professional Ethics & Case Studies

Advisory Ethics

Standard of care when providing Social Security advice.

Identifying common misconceptions and "Social Security Myths."

Practical Application

Analyzing complex case studies: Single filers, disabled adult children, and self-employed individuals.

Utilizing Social Security optimization software for data-driven analysis.