Ask Larry: Questions and Answers | BAM - Maximize My Social Security

Displaying 1331 - 1340 of 10063 questions.

Why Am I Being Punished?

I received benefits in 2018 and 8 months later i traveled out of country for over a year and cancelled my b insurance. According to Social Security, i can cancel my insurance but "may" pay a penalty. But when i go to re-enroll when i got back to USA, they told me i would have to wait until Jan-march to enroll and the insurance would not be available until July and i would pay 10% on the months i was not covered which would be more than i can afford. I feel like they are punishing me when insurance is not mandated in Ohio.

Hi. Medicare is a federal program, . . . Read More

Category: Medicare
Posted: Feb 8 2022 - 11:31am

Are There Any Limits That Could Adversely Affect My Son Later In Life?

I just started receiving social security benefits and I have a child with disabilities (now 13) (life-long disabilities) I read an article that briefly talked about "disabled child benefit" - If he qualifies at age thirteen are there limits that could affect him later in life? Are there downsides to taking this benefit? Thank you.

Hi. No, there is no lifetime limit on how much a person can be paid from Social Security. Since your child is only 13 now, he doesn't need to be disabled to currently be eligible for child benefits based on your record. When he's . . . Read More

Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: Feb 8 2022 - 11:12am

Do I Have Any Recourse?

Do I have any recourse against my disability lawyer or some type of appeal for just my back pay. I filed in Dec 2015 went to adm. law judge in 2018 and approved. However, the Adm. Law Judge only had the evaluation of a doctor I had seen at the behest of my atty in 2018. When I hired him I obtained and gave my atty. copies of my medical records and all my other SS paperwork, which included an evaluation by my doctor I had been seeing for 25 years, At the end of the hearing the Judge said he would approve with an onset date of Dec 2018 which I knew meant he was trying to beat me . . . Read More

Category: Filing An Appeal
Posted: Feb 8 2022 - 8:10am

Is There Any Way My Friend Can Find Out Her Potential Divorced Spousal Amount Without Applying?

I've got a friend who is divorced. She was married for more than 10 years and has been divorced more than 2 years. Her ex is older than 62. She's approaching her FRA and doesn't know if she should apply for her SS benefits because she's not sure if her spousal benefit will be more than her amount if she waits until 70 to claim. If her spousal benefit is more than her age 70 amount it makes sense to claim at FRA. Is there any way she can find out what her spousal amount would be without applying?
Thanks

Hi. Yes. The privacy act allows Social Security . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Feb 8 2022 - 7:20am

How Can A Divorced Spouse Find Out Their Ex-Spouse's PIA So That They Can Make Claiming Decisions?

Gina (age 61) was married to John (age 78) for 11 years. They have been divorced for 6 years. They are not speaking to each other. How can Gina find out John's PIA in order to make some decisions on claiming options before she turns 62? Your Maximize My Social Security software would not be helpful without John's PIA, would it?

Hi. Unless there is a specific exception, Social Security is barred by the privacy act from releasing personal information from one person's record to someone else. However, there is an exception that allows Social Security to . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Feb 7 2022 - 6:39pm

Can My Spouse Use My Benefit As A Spousal Benefit Until I Start Collecting?

Hi Larry,
My husband is 73 and receives $1089 in SS monthly. I am 59 and at full retirement at 67 my SS benefit estimate is $1707. Can he use my higher benefit for a spousal benefit until - or after - I draw my benefit? Thanks, Sarah

Hi Sarah. No. First of all, your husband couldn't be paid spousal benefits at least until you start drawing your benefits. And, even then, the only way that your husband would be eligible for any spousal benefits while you are living is if your primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as much as his own PIA. A . . . Read More

Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Feb 7 2022 - 6:29pm

When Social Security Recalculates My Benefit Amount For Last Year's Earnings, Will It Be Retroactive To January 2022?

I understand that SS will recalculate my benefit due to additional wages reported. I reached full retirement age January 1, 2022 (my DOB is 11/24/1955) and so applied for those benefits to start at that time. I retired 12/31/2021 and so had wages from all of 2021. Those 2021 wages were not used in the calculation for my benefit since they were not reported at that time. My question is when SS does finally conduct a recalculation that will include my additional 2021 wages, will my increased benefit be retroactive back to 01/01/2022? I have read that annual recalculations are . . . Read More

Category: Recomputations
Posted: Feb 7 2022 - 6:21pm

Can You Tell Me Where It's Covered In The Regulations That My Social Security Must Be Paid Through The RRB?

My husband is a railroad retiree and receives Tier I and II benefits. I am a retiree who never worked for the railroad but for some reason my Social Security is being paid through the RRB. Can you tell me where in either law or regulation, this is covered? I am also interested to know what will happen upon my husband's death to his Tier I benefit. Will I be eligible for that or a portion of that or only Tier II? Is that because RRB is paying my Social Security? Would it be different if my retirement was being paid by Social Security instead of the RRB? Thank you.
. . . Read More

Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: Feb 7 2022 - 6:02pm

Is SSA Being Truthful?

I bought Get What's Yours a couple years ago, and it provided excellent advice as I was preparing to file for Social Security benefits last year. After looking at my finances, I decided to ask for benefits to begin two months after FRA (66 and 2 months). Taking your advice, I wrote on the application that I wanted monthly benefits to include all Delayed Retirement Credits earned to date. Everything seemed fine when the first Social Security deposit was made at age 66 and 4 months with no lump sum payment for retroactive benefits. However, it did not include DRCs. After asking, . . . Read More

Category: Delayed Retirement Credits
Posted: Feb 7 2022 - 5:48pm

Can I Take Spousal Benefits From Social Security?

I have a small pension (approx 1,000 a month) from the City Of Newton and get $208.00 from social security. The WEP takes the majority of my social security. I am almost 66 and 2 months…wondering if I can take my spousal benefit from Social Security to increase my very paltry income. I went to social security several times before the pandemic. It was confusing and what I ended up with “someone at the office” said was the best I could do. I have been unable to get a response to this question from them. Just wondering if you know.

Thanks in advance.

Hi . . . Read More

Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Feb 7 2022 - 5:41pm

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