What Can Be Done To Reclaim The Lost Money That Was Due To Us?
My SSDI payment was split for me and my two children. Due to my illness, my children were living with their father. My children never received their payments and it was never returned to my allotment what can. E done to reclaim this lost money that was due to us based on my earnings? Now I am forced to live on $300 less per month because it was split but never paid to my children.
Hi. I think you must be misunderstanding how child benefits work. If a child qualifies for benefits based on a parent's Social Security record, it does not reduce the amount . . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: May 20 2022 - 8:33pm
If I'm Already Drawing Spousal Benefits Will Social Security Automatically Switch Me To My Own Benefits At Age 70?
I filed a restricted application for spousal benefits at the same time my wife filed for her retirement benefit at her full retirement age. When I want to receive my own retirement benefit at age 70, will Social Security automatically make this switch for me, or will I have to contact Social Security to let them know I a want to file for my own retirement benefit? Thank You.
Hi. No. Social Security can't entitle you to your own benefits unless you apply for them. When you file a restricted application for spousal benefits, which by the way can only be . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: May 20 2022 - 8:17pm
Will It Affect My Daughter's Disability Payments If I Leave Her $50,000 From My Life Insurance?
Hi Larry: my adult daughter is on disability. I plan on leaving her $50000 of my life insurance is this alright or will it effect her payments? Thank You
Hi. I assume you mean that your daughter would receive $50,000 in the event of your death. In that case, the answer to your question depends on what type of disability benefits your daughter receives. If it's any type of Social Security disability benefit (e.g. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits, Disabled Widows Benefits) that your daughter is receiving, then . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: May 20 2022 - 11:31am
Will WEP Affect The Amount Of My Benefits From My Deceased Husband's Record?
I am a retired Texas teacher that paid into our Texas Retirement System, and my husband is deceased. When I draw on his Social 1security, will my WEP affect that amount?
Hi. No. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) won't affect your potential widow's benefits, but the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision might (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf). WEP only applies to Social Security retirement and disability benefits. It does not apply to survivor or auxiliary (e.g. spousal) benefits . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: May 19 2022 - 12:17pm
Can I Collect On My Ex-Husband's Benefits If He's Under Age 62?
Hi I'm 62 years old and divorced and I am collecting SSI because I have cancer and do not work and my ex-husband is 61 years old and I am single so can I collect on my ex-husbands benefits if he isn't 62 years old yet
Hi. No, unless your ex-spouse is collecting Social Security disability benefits. Your ex must either be a) at least age 62 or b) be drawing Social Security retirement or disability benefits in order for you to potentially be eligible for divorced spousal benefits. You also need to have been married to your ex for at least 10 years prior to . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: May 18 2022 - 5:28pm
How Could I Get Social Security To Reevaluate My Benefits?
32 yrs of working, how could I get them to reevaluate my ssa, I made over a million in my years of working.
Hi. If you think that you were awarded an incorrect benefit rate and if it's still within 60 days of the date of your award letter, you could request reconsideration (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10058.pdf). If more than 60 days have elapsed since you were awarded benefits, then you'd need to submit a written and signed request to Social Security asking them to reopen and recalculate your . . . Read More
Category: Benefit Amount
Posted: May 17 2022 - 12:38pm
Will WEP Cause A Major Reduction In My Totalization Benefit?
Hello. If I am collecting a totalization SS benefit using 36 US credits and 4 Canada credits will I see a major benefit drop subject to WEP if I worked part time and crossed the 40 US credit threshold? Thank you for your help.
Hi. No. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) doesn't apply to totalization benefit computations (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0201701300).
Best, Jerry
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: May 17 2022 - 12:30pm
Will My Current Wife And My Ex-Wife Both Receive 100% Of My Benefit Amount When I Die?
Larry, I’m 69 drawing social security, and remarried. I was married to my first wife for 16 yrs, she hasn’t remarried. I’ve been married to my current wife for 29 yrs. Both are in their 60s. My question: Upon my death, will both my first wife and my current wife receive 100% of my current social security monthly benefit?
Thank you,
Mark
Hi Mark. Well, that's certainly possible. If your ex-wife does end up collecting survivor benefits from your account it wouldn't have any adverse effect on your current wife's potential widow's benefits. Nor, . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: May 16 2022 - 2:27pm
Can I Now Contest The Fact That Social Security Wouldn't Allow Me To Withdraw My Application For Benefits?
I need two questions answered please...
1). I started taking benefits at my full retirement age and then within 6 months changed my mind and dropped off a letter at the SSA local office. Months later they told me I was too late and denied my request to pay back monies and wait until I was 70 years old. Can I contest this now three year old ruling ?.? 2) I failed to ask for family benefits for my under 18 children...can I now go back and file and receive them ?? Thank you very much...Rick
Hi Rick. The answer to both questions is a tentative maybe. If . . . Read More
Category: Withdrawing a Benefit Application
Posted: May 16 2022 - 1:32pm
How Do I Change My Payment From Quarterly To Monthly?
I would like to change my payment from quarterly to monthly. How can I do it?
Hi. I assume that you're referring to paying your part B Medicare premiums. If so, there is no way that you could opt to pay those premiums monthly instead of quarterly. If and when you start drawing Social Security benefits, though, your part B premiums will be deducted from your Social Security payments on a monthly basis.
Best, Jerry
Category: Medicare
Posted: May 15 2022 - 3:21pm
