The Retirement and IRA Show Social Security, 5-year Rule, Conduit Trusts, Inherited IRAs: Q&A #2614
Apr 4, 2026
Listeners ask about timing Social Security claiming around January and delayed retirement credits. Questions cover using SSA‑44 to fix IRMAA after income changes and pitfalls of Roth five‑year timing. They dive into conduit trusts, how minor beneficiaries and the 10‑year rule interact, and what happens when a trust is named as an IRA beneficiary.
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Social Security January Batch Awards Delay Credits
- Social Security awards delayed retirement credits in a yearly batch each January rather than immediately when you delay months past full retirement age.
- Claiming in December can permanently forfeit that year's accrued credits, while claiming in January restores them but sacrifices the December payment.
Use SSA-44 After A Spouse Stops Working
- File an SSA-44 when a qualifying life-changing event reduces household MAGI so Medicare IRMAA uses your current income instead of the two-year lookback.
- Both spouses must file separately and work reduction for either spouse (like retirement) qualifies even if conversions raised prior MAGI.
Roth Five-Year Clock Counts Full First Year
- For the Roth five-year rule the first calendar year counts in full regardless of the opening date, but the fifth year must be fully completed to satisfy the five-year clock.
- A Roth opened any time in 2026 completes its five-year age test only at the end of 2031 (January 1, 2032 effectively).