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

Displaying 1371 - 1380 of 10063 questions.

Will My Son Need To Fill Out A New Application When His Father Retires?

My son received a favorable CDR in May 2021. He’s 25 and was awarded when he was 18. His dad is retiring in August. Will he have to fill out a new application? If so will they resend for all his medical records and wait for 9-12 months for a decision. Will he need to be medically awarded again or can he just fe switched to SSDi?

Hi. Yes, your son would need to file a new application if he wants to become entitled to benefits on his father's account. That's true even if he's already receiving Social Security disability (SSDI) or disabled adult child's (DAC . . . Read More

Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: Jan 31 2022 - 4:05pm

Why Am I Being Asked To Mail In A Form?

Why am I receiving a questionnaire (Form SSA-L9781-SM (7-2021)) in paper form, and why isn't there an alternative (web link) where I can respond electronically?

On the surface it seem a waste of resources, but what is troubling me is that the letter states that I will earn $11,000 annually more than my SSA is paying; I never told anyone that I was going to work anywhere (I may have asked how much I could earn). It's trivial, but the return postage is on me (job security for the postal service if all 50,000,000 of us send that back in snail mail.)

Create a web link . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Jan 31 2022 - 3:53pm

Is My New Payment Date On The 1st?

so does this mean our first two payments are early this year on the 1st instead of the 3rd. i normally get mine on the 3rd but in january 2022 my payment came as if i were paid on the 1st the friday befor. is this my new payment date the 1st?

Hi. No. No one is regularly paid Social Security benefits on the 1st day of the month. The 3rd day of the month is the earliest possible regular payment day, although if a person's normal payment date is on the 3rd of the month and if the 3rd falls on a weekend or holiday, then the person's benefit is paid on the . . . Read More

Category: Payment Dates
Posted: Jan 31 2022 - 3:38pm

When Should I Apply For My Own Benefits?

Hi Larry, I'm currently receiving spousal benefits on the second Wednesday of each month. I will turn 70 at the end of May, 2022. What month/date should I apply for benefits on my own record so that there is a clean break from spousal benefits, and my own retirement benefits start when I’m considered to be 70, and not before that? Is there a grace period they give to do this? Thank you.

Hi. Even if you don't turn age 70 until the latter part of May 2022, for benefit calculation purposes Social Security will consider you to be age 70 for that full month. . . . Read More

Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: Jan 31 2022 - 3:27pm

Can I Get Survivor Benefits Due To My Mother's Death?

I was 1 year 1 month 4 days old when my mom died of cancer I am currently 38 can I get survivers bennifits do to loss of parent as a child

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. The only way that you could now be paid anything based on your mother's Social Security contributions is if you qualify for disabled adult child's (DAC) benefits. In order to qualify for DAC benefits, you'd need to be a) unmarried, and b) disabled based on an impairment that began prior to age 22 (https://www.ssa. . . . Read More

Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Jan 31 2022 - 3:16pm

When Will I Get My Benefit Payments?

If I have been getting paid on the 3rd of the month. In that case my birthday is the 31st of January. If I don't receive a check on the 3rd that means all of my finances will be discombobulated due to Auto pays and first of the month utility dates. So I would be without income .So can I expect my check deposit on the 3rd of Feb and the new dispensation on Feb 23 and on the 4 Wed in the following months. What I've read is unclear & stressing me out.Please help me understand the reality

Hi. All I can tell you is that the day of the month on which your . . . Read More

Category: Payment Dates
Posted: Jan 31 2022 - 3:01pm

Do I Qualify For My Ex-Husband's Income When I Turn 62?

If I’m on SSI and turn 62 in May and didn’t make enough income however I was marry for over 13 years and my ex husband had a large amount of income while we were married do I qualify for that income at 62

Hi. You might be eligible for divorced spousal benefits on your ex's Social Security account, but there's more required than just meeting the 10-year duration of marriage requirement. Assuming that your ex is still living, he would need to be at least age 62 or collecting Social Security retirement or disability benefits in order for you to potentially be . . . Read More

Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Jan 31 2022 - 2:11pm

Can I Reclaim A New Benefit Based On My Ex-Wife's Social Security Numbers?

My disability benefit, turned into my SS benefit when I reached full retirement.
Can I reclaim a new benefit based on my ex wife’s numbers ? It would be substantially more !

Hi. You can't stop drawing your own benefits and collect divorced spousal or survivor benefits instead, but you could apply for an excess divorced spousal or survivor benefit to be paid in addition to your own benefit.

There's not enough information in your question for me to know if you'd meet the requirements for those benefits, though. The requirements for divorced . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jan 31 2022 - 1:36pm

What Is The Best Age To Start Social Security Benefits?

best age to start social security benefits

Hi. There is no one-size-fits-all best age to start drawing Social Security benefits. The best filing strategy for each person depends on numerous different variables. Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) is specifically designed to analyze all of the factors involved in determining a person's optimal filing strategy, so you should strongly consider using the software to help you determine when it would be best in your case to . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jan 31 2022 - 1:22pm

What Amount Will My Wife Get When I Die?

I’ll begin collecting social security this year at age 70. My wife will also begin collecting on her record this year, at age 62. I’m interested in survivor benefits. Since I waited until 70 to file, what amount will my wife be eligible to receive when I pass?

Hi. If you start drawing your benefits at age 70 and if your wife is at least full retirement age (FRA) when she claims widow's benefits, she'll get the higher of her own benefit rate or your full age 70 rate.

Best, Jerry

Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Jan 31 2022 - 1:11pm

Return to Ask Larry

Get What's Yours!

Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!

Find your maximized strategy
Unlimited what-ifs
Step-by-Step filing instructions
Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy

Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.

Get What's Yours—Buy Now!