When You Claim Social Security Can Change Everything
One decision — when to start collecting — can mean tens of thousands of dollars more or less over your lifetime. I help you understand your options clearly so you can choose the timing that actually fits your life.
What a Certified Social Security Advisor Does Differently
Most people make their claiming decision based on a conversation with a neighbor, a quick Google search, or a Social Security Administration office visit. The SSA can tell you your benefit amount — but they can't tell you which claiming strategy is right for you.
As an RSSA certified advisor, I analyze your full picture: your age, earnings history, health, marital status, and retirement income goals. Then I walk you through the options in plain language so you can make a confident, informed decision — not a guess.
We still believe that transparency is non-negotiable.
We still take the time to explain policies in everyday language.
And we still measure success by the trust and confidence our clients feel after every conversation.
The Decisions That Shape Your Retirement Income
Claiming Social Security isn't a single yes-or-no question. There are several decisions layered inside it, and each one affects the others.
- When to start: Claiming at 62 reduces your monthly benefit permanently. Waiting until 70 increases it significantly. The right answer depends on your health, your other income sources, and how long you expect to receive benefits.
- Spousal benefits: Married couples have options that single filers don't. Coordinating when each spouse claims can meaningfully increase your combined lifetime income.
- Survivor benefits: If you're widowed, your claiming decision affects what you receive now — and what you may be entitled to based on your spouse's record.
- Working while collecting: Earning income before full retirement age while receiving benefits can trigger temporary reductions. Knowing the thresholds in advance helps you plan around them.
- Medicare coordination: The timing of your Social Security claim affects when Medicare Part B premiums are deducted from your check — and can trigger IRMAA surcharges if income thresholds are crossed.
How I Help You Claim with Confidence
Step 1:
Review Your Earnings Record
We start by pulling your Social Security statement and reviewing your earnings history for accuracy. Errors in your record can reduce your benefit — and they're worth catching before you file.
Step 2:
Model Your Claiming Scenarios
I run a side-by-side analysis of your claiming options — different start dates, spousal coordination strategies, and breakeven projections — so you can see the real numbers, not just the general rules.
Step 3:
Connect Social Security to Your Full Retirement Plan
Social Security doesn't exist in isolation. I look at how your claiming decision interacts with your Medicare enrollment, any pension or retirement account income, and your overall monthly budget in retirement.
Step 4:
Make Your Decision and File with Clarity
Once you've chosen your strategy, I help you understand exactly how and when to file — so there are no surprises when your first check arrives.
Social Security and Medicare Are More Connected Than Most People Realize
If you're approaching 65, your Social Security and Medicare decisions are tied together in ways that aren't obvious until something goes wrong. Claiming Social Security before 65 can trigger automatic Medicare Part B enrollment. Delaying Social Security past 65 means you'll need to enroll in Medicare separately — and missing that window carries lifelong premium penalties.
I hold an RSSA certification specifically because I work with clients at the intersection of both programs. When you're planning for retirement in Illinois, getting these two decisions coordinated is one of the most valuable things you can do.
For a deeper look at how these programs interact, visit my Social Security and Medicare page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Social Security Planning
When is the best age to start collecting Social Security?
There's no single right answer — it depends on your health, your other retirement income, and whether you're married. Claiming at 62 locks in a permanently reduced benefit. Waiting until 70 maximizes your monthly amount. Most people benefit from modeling the numbers before they decide.
What does an RSSA certified advisor do that the Social Security Administration doesn't?
The SSA can tell you your projected benefit at different ages, but they're not permitted to advise you on strategy. An RSSA certified advisor analyzes your personal situation and helps you evaluate which claiming approach — and which timing — produces the best outcome for you specifically.
Can I work and collect Social Security at the same time?
Yes, but if you're younger than your full retirement age, earning above a certain threshold will temporarily reduce your benefit. Once you reach full retirement age, there's no earnings limit. I can help you understand exactly how the numbers work for your situation.
How does Social Security affect my Medicare premiums?
If your income exceeds certain thresholds, you may pay higher Medicare Part B and Part D premiums — a surcharge called IRMAA. Your Social Security benefit amount and timing can affect whether you cross those thresholds. Coordinating both decisions together helps you avoid unexpected premium increases.
Do you offer Social Security guidance in Spanish?
Yes. I serve a significant Spanish-speaking client base across Winnebago, Kane, DeKalb, and Cook counties, and I provide the same Social Security planning guidance fully in Spanish. If you'd prefer to meet in Spanish, just let me know when you schedule.
Is your Social Security planning service free?
Yes. Like all of my services, Social Security advising is provided at no cost to you. I'm compensated by the insurance carriers when clients enroll in a plan — not by the people I help.
What Our Clients Say
Real feedback, real relationships
Beth E.
Very informative and helpful-nice ,friendly-answered all of our questions -made the process easy.
Tim B.
Jose is great to work with and helped make applying for insurance easy.
Cindy B.
I had a wonderful experience with Jose. He was very helpful and wanted to assist me. I am so glad I found him.
James H.
What is the the experience of going through Medicare and social security is normally a major headache. Jose made this so easy so fast. And painless.
I really appreciate everything he did to help us out. In one hundred percent, I tell anybody he is the man
Charlie S.
I cannot thank Jose Gloria enough for his help. He went above and beyond to help my sister with her Social Security mistakes she made. Also helping my brother with his Medicaid issues. I didn’t feel rushed, and he answered all our questions professionally. I would recommend him to all my family and friends.
Chely R.
(Translated by Google) Mr. Jose Gloria is an excellent person and very professional in his work. He helped my husband get affordable insurance. I highly recommend him. Thank you. Sincerely, Maria Peinado
(Original)
el señor Jose Gloria es una excelente persona, muy profesional en su trabajo. Ayudo a mi esposo a conseguir un seguro económico. lo recomiendo altamente. gracias. Atte María peinado
Bridget Y.
Jose, he was an awesome contact for the need of finding insurance, worked with me within my budget for premiums and looked out for the best possible provider based on my needs.Made it all very easy process.
Lauren B.
The broker helped me with my insurance issue,as no one else was able to
Yiveni V.
(Translated by Google) Jose is very professional and answered all my questions patiently. He helped my family decide on the best health plan for us.
Jose was very professional and answered all my questions patiently. He helped my family find the most suitable health plan for us.
(Original)
Jose is very professional and answered all my questions with patience. He helped my family decide on the best medical plan for us.
Jose fue muy profesional y respondió todas mis preguntas con paciencia. Ayudó a mi familia a encontrar el plan médico más adecuado para nosotros.
Erick J.
Jose did an incredible job at explaining all the information we needed to know. He has a great attitude and is very professional at his job. I recommend everybody to go with him.
Martha E.
I had Jose assist me with acquiring health insurance through the Marketplace and he was very helpful. I would not hesitate to recommend him.
Brad B.
Jose is the best. He helped me with getting health insurance through the Marketplace. He is very knowledgeable and I couldn't be happier with the service that he provided for me.
Eslen P.
(Translated by Google) Mr. Jose Gloria is very professional, explains everything, and is very kind. I recommend him 100%. Thank you so much, sir. People like you are what we need. 👍👍👍
(Original)
El señor jose gloria es muy profesional explica todo y es muy amable lo recomiendo al 100 muchas gracias señor gente como usted es lo que necesitamos.👍👍👍
Juan M.
Very good knowledge and punctuality..Good help choosing a plan.
Nathan A.
I highly recommend Mr. Jose Gloria as a Medicare benefits advisor. He is very thorough and explains different plan options in an easy to understand manner. He genuinely wants to find the best fit for your needs and couldn't be more knowledgeable. He provides a relaxed atmosphere that is not rushed.
Karen S.
Jose is the man to see for your insurance plans. He was so very knowledgeable and explained the difference plans we were looking at. If you need great advice for your insurance needs , see Jose, you won’t be disappointed!
Cameron W.
If you need help selecting a medicare plan, this where you need to go. A+ experience.
Bob W.
Jose Gloria is a very knowledgeable and Professional.He explained all plans that were available and was a tremendous help . Thank you Jose
Abbey J.
We had such a pleasure working with Jose! He really helped us figure out the best plan for our family during a stressful situation and remained professional, knowledgeable and kind throughout the whole process! We look forward to working with him in the future!
Dan V.
I met with Jose this morning to go over my options for additional Medicare options. Trying to do it myself was confusing.
Jose took the time to explain in great detail in terms easy to understand to help me make a good choice.
He spent over an hour to help me. His professionalism, manner of dealing with me, making me feel comfortable and clear on my choices was second to none.
I highly recommend Jose Gloria to anyone seeking help and guidance with their needs.
Delfina P.
(Translated by Google) Mr. Gloria is a very professional person and helped me find an affordable health insurance plan. I highly recommend him for help with a health insurance plan!
(Original)
El Sr Gloria es una personal muy profesional y me ayudo encontrar un plan de seguro medico economico. Le recomiendo altamente para que le ayude con un plan de seguro medico!
Antonio D.
I had a great experience. He helped me find a new insurance plan that still covered my existing doctors. He was very informative, helpful, and quick to respond throughout the whole process.
Debora S.
Jose just did my Medicare updated and he was excellent!!
Jose took the time to explain
Scam techniques, and was extremely patient with Me as I practice on him!!
Jose found the best advantage care package for my needs and was very patient with me and all my questions!
Jose was very personable and I could tell that he liked his job!!
Ps Also his dogs!! 🐶 lol
Thank you for going above and beyond your job!
Blessings,
Debora Sowers
Angela F.
Very knowledgeable
Teresa O.
Jose helped me get the best Medicare Advantage plan for my situation! I highly recommend him for anyone looking for a Medicare plan!!
Elisabeth G.
Great personality and helpful with all the information for my dad’s insurance that we did not know before thanks Jose for your helping if you need help on your insurance contact him
Kim A.
Patient, well informed and easy to understand. Interesting conversation as a bonus.
Horace C.
I highly recommend Mr. Gloria and his agency as an advisor for Medicare insurance renewal. His expertise can guarantee the best policy to serve your needs.
Roy W.
Very professional made everything understandable and I have great insurance now
Josefina P.
Jose is a very good agent, he is always patient, and explains our Medicare plan options in easy to understand language.
Linda M.
He was very informant, and help explain everything. He made me feel alive more confident, about what my plan is about. Thank you.
Marianna R.
He was very knowledgeable answered all my questions about my Medicare advantage olanand very pleasant ,
Maria G.
Mr. Jose was very professional, knowledgeable and informative. Answered every question and helped us understand our options available for medical insurance for our father needs.
David R.
Very reliable, patient, easy to talk to and knowledgeable He's always a great help with choosing the best Medicare plan for my needs
Andrew B.
I was very happy with the presentation and would suggest to any of my friends that they meet with Gloria to get their own personal presentation.
Clarise M.
I went to see Jose Gloria about different Medicare insurance and he is very knowledgeable about Medicare and Medicaid insurance. He took his time to explain the different types of insurance to me and how each one worked, and I decided on which one I wanted and handed me his card and any questions just give him a call. His office is on East State.
Dale
Jose was excellent in helping me with a suitable insurance plan.
John R.
Jose. With signing up for my Health Insurance Policy and explaining and making sure I understand what my co-payments are being a lot lower cost and out of the the pocket expense and took plenty of time to make sure I was understanding what I was signing up for.
Peggy D.
Jose did excellent work helping me with my Medicare plan
James K.
Knowledgeable and ALWAYS WILLING to help. Best I've worked with.
Kimberly S.
Very detailed, personable and knowledgeable
Dennis U.
Jose is very knowledgeable and easy to work with when looking for medicare insurance. He helped find a policy I'm very happy with and answered any or all questions I had. Would highly recommend if looking for insurance needs.
Robert
He was very helpful for my questions
Joyce B.
He is always fantastic. He always answers my questions to the fullest extent. He is a valuable asset to me and the office. I encourage all to use his knowledge for their benefits.
Gabriela R.
(Translated by Google) Excellent service, attention, and professionalism. The advice is thorough and clear. Highly recommended.
(Original)
Excelente servicio, atencion y profesionalismo. La asesoria es completa y clara. Mas que recomendado.
S S.
This gentleman was very helpful. He takes his time and will answer any questions you may have. I appreciate his willingness to help and be upfront with his knowledge. A+
Christina M.
I'm so thankful for the time that Jose spent helping me switch my Medicare plan and making sure I understood all the information that came with my new plan. He was very thorough and so kind, thank you so much!!
Timothy K.
Jose is one of the greatest when I say he gets the job done he gets the job done…
Thank You So Much Scarlett Jefferson
Lashana B.
The Gloria Agency is a very great business Mr Jose Gloria explained everything to myself very well so that I could understand it. So overall I would recommend The Gloria Agency to everyone.
Patricia B.
All my questions were answered. Mr. Gloria helped me with my medicare Questions and the different plans available. Very.
Nice and professional.
Elizabeth S.
(Translated by Google) I was very pleased with the service Mr. Gloria provided. Excellent person!
(Original)
Me agrado el servicio que me brindo el Sr Gloria. Excellent persona!
Teri A.
Jose Gloria was awesome. He explained every single detail about Aetna. He has always been super nice and very informative with all my requests and questions. I adore him, and will recommend him and his service to any one in need. Thank you so much.
Daisy Y.
(Translated by Google) Jose Gloria is honestly a great agent and very thorough. Very helpful and went over Medicare insurance that best fit both of my parents.
Jose Gloria is honestly a good agent. He helped me with Medicare insurance for my parents.
Highly recommend him!
(Original)
Jose gloria is honestly a great agent and very thorough. Very helpful and went over Medicare insurance that best fit for both of my parents.
José Gloria es honestamente un buen agente. Me ayudó con el seguro del plan de Medicare para mis padres.
Highly recommend him !!
Rose S.
Hi my name is Rose Stamps. I had the pleasure of getting Insurance with The Gloria Agency. Mr. Jose Gloria is very knowledgable, explaining each detail of the plan that I'm getting. He is also very personable, answering each question that I asked him. He made certain that my doctor's that I have, I'm able to keep with my new plan. I'm very pleased, and will pass along to my friends regarding his insurance.
D J.
I had a wonderful experience with Jose regarding my mother’s health insurance. We needed to switch her to a plan that was more suitable for her medical needs and Jose made sure to go over all the necessary details to carefully pick the best option for her. Would recommend.
Jenny F.
Jose was very articulate in explaining and showing me several companies/coverages to choose from for my Medicare needs. Thanks Jose! 🙃
Agnes
Jose was very helpful in assisting me in choosing a plan that was more beneficial for me. I would recommend him for your Medicare options. He went over all info, did not pressure one way or the other and made sure I understood my options. Thanks Jose
Francisco L.
Jose has a great experience and knowledge about Health plans . He did a great job explaining pros and cons based on my personal situation , we went to all available plans available in my area .
I made the best decision with Jose’s unbiased analysis.
Highly recommend specially if you need bilingual English-Spanish assistance.
Tony I.
Jose is very detailed about getting the best policy for my needs.
Valerie K.
Jose Gloria is always prepared for our meetings. He answers my questions that help me make an informed decision about my insurance needs.
Billy G.
Mr.Gloria was very professional on today as always and each time i talk to him he alwayd try to find a better way or a better plan that fit the individual
Patti K.
Jose was awesome!! Very knowledgeable in the insurance field , set me up with a fantastic medical plan , very satisfied with the outcome.. would highly recommend The Gloria Agency for anyone needing insurance needs.. Job well done!! 👏💯
Erna D.
Jose Gloria greatly helped us understand what supplemental insurance fit us the best and explained everything Very friendly and answered all our questions he is #1 in our book
George D.
Jose was a great help. He made me feel relaxed. He's a calm person and listens to us. I'm glad we had him thanks.
Vanika B.
Everything is going great
Judy J.
Having to purchase Shedule D Ins. For the first time. Mr. Garcia was a Joy to work with; explanation of terminology, quick text and phone call returns. He found the right plan for me!
Joel H.
Jose was very patient with us,showed us a lot of different options for Medicare Advantage plans, explained them to us, and answered any questions that we had. We had an excellent experience dealing with him. He was very kind and made every effort to make sure that we were comfortable in his office.
Glenda B.
Jose Gloria has been most helpful in assisting me to navigate the annual confusion of the Medicare/Medicare Advantage enrollment periods. Thank you, Mr Gloria, for making this process easier.
Carol L.
I would recommend Jose to anybody in everybody if you need an insurance agent
Xochilt M.
(Translated by Google) Extremely helpful, highly recommended
(Original)
De muchisima ayuda altamente recomendado
Josefina E.
(Translated by Google) Jose helped us a lot with our insurance. We highly recommend him!!
(Original)
Jose nos ayudo mucho con nuestro segura. Se lo recomendamos mucho!!
Ismael E.
(Translated by Google) Jose provided excellent service, helping us find the best insurance for us. We recommend you visit him for assistance!
(Original)
Jose nos dio muy buen servicio, ayudándonos encontrar la mejor aseguranza para nosotros. Le recomendamos que lo visiten para que le ayuden también!
Kevin R.
Jose was so very helpful and nice. The whole process was quick and easy. I highly recommend him to anyone who needs insurance. He explained everything in a way I could understand. Thank you so much Jose!
Lauri N.
The Gloria agency is the best in the business. The staff is very knowledgeable and takes their time to go over different plans, so you can find the right plan that fits your needs. I am exceptionally happy with my health insurance plan, and I have Jose to thank for that. He came to my house and spent time with me and asked me questions about what my insurance needs were. We were able to find a plan that was perfect for me. You have to give the Gloria agency a call, trust me…they are the best in the business.
Sam N.
I was very satisfied with Jose and how easily he was able to switch me to a better health insurance plan that even included a monthly allowance for food. I would recommend him to anyone who needs a good health plan.
Annie A.
He gives you the best advice and he looks to all different insurances to see the one that will fit you the best I've been a client of his for almost a year going on to so if you're looking for someone to help you find good insurance and you're 65 and over call him
Tavares M.
Jose is very responsive, thorough, personable, and caring. He answered my questions, and guided me efficiently through the process.
Tiffinie B.
Gloria is the best out there!!!! He listens to you!!!! He does a fantastic job!!! I will keep going to him!!!!
Monte K.
We had a great experience working with Jose ,our Marketplace insurance broker. He made the process simple, answered all our questions , and helped us find the right coverage for our needs. We really appreciate his professionalism and highly recommend his services!
Ready to Make a Plan for Your Retirement Income?
Social Security is one of the largest financial decisions you'll make — and it's one you can't undo once you file. I'm here to help you get it right the first time. Serving clients in Rockford, Elgin, DeKalb, Carpentersville, Schaumburg, and across northern Illinois.