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

Displaying 1661 - 1670 of 10063 questions.

Can You Give Me Some Insight?

I started receiving disability in 2018. At that time myself and my two minor children all three received a back payment check. Up until that time from 2016 up until that time my son was receiving a Survivor benefit from his father who passed away in January of 2016. He turned 18 in September and I filled out the appropriate paperwork to have him continue to receive his check until May when he when he is to graduate. Somehow a date. Wrong and my son stop receiving his disability check from me the past 2 months. Now Social Security is telling me that they withheld those two . . . Read More

Category: Social Security Overpayments
Posted: Nov 19 2021 - 4:44pm

Can I Collect My Social Security And My Deceased Husband's Railroad Retirement At The Same Time?

I am taking my deceased husband’s Railroad retirement can I also collect my own Social Security retirement at the same time

Hi. Potentially, but if you claim your Social Security benefits then the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will offset your Tier 1 Railroad benefit dollar for dollar by the amount of your Social Security benefit. So, by applying for Social Security you'll only get more total benefits if your Social Security benefit amount is more than your Tier 1 Railroad amount.

Best, Jerry

Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: Nov 19 2021 - 4:38pm

Does Drawing Spousal Benefits Impact My PIA?

I have applied for social security to begin in 02/2022 when I turn 70. When I reached my FRA in 2016, I applied for my spousal benefits. Do spousal benefits impact my PIA? I received the Social Security Notice of Award, it did not include any COLAs after my spousal benefits began. I have manually determined my PIA as of my FRA and it's the same as what they told me it was back in 2018. I have called them and they said COLAs are only for people receiving the benefits. I know that's wrong and want to submit an appeal. Can your software provide a report that I can use to submit . . . Read More

Category: Benefit Amount
Posted: Nov 19 2021 - 4:25pm

What Are The Repayment Terms When You Request A Withdrawal?

If I start SS and stop within the one year requirement, I realize that all payments must be repaid.
My question is what is the repayment terms / conditions? For example, is there a payment schedule (or) is repayment one lump sum repaid immediately?
Thanking you in advance....

Hi. You can't withdraw a claim for benefits unless you fully repay any and all of the benefits you've been paid up front. Repaying by installments isn't an option when you request a withdrawal.

Best, Jerry

Category: Withdrawing a Benefit Application
Posted: Nov 19 2021 - 4:17pm

Will My Pension From Belgium Be Exempt From Causing Any WEP Or GPO Reduction In My Divorced Spousal Benefits From The U.S.?

If I draw a Social Security pension from Belgium and at 66 years and 4 months will draw Divorced Spouse SS from the USA - will the USA SS be exempt from both WEP and GPO and not reduced because of my foreign SS pension? Thanks Larry!

Hi. Yes. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) doesn't apply to auxiliary (e.g. spousal, divorced spousal) or survivor benefits, so WEP won't be an issue with regard to your divorced spousal benefits from the U.S.

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision does apply to auxiliary and survivor benefits, but . . . Read More

Category: Foreign Pensions
Posted: Nov 19 2021 - 10:38am

Can I Enter My Trial Work Period Nine Months Before My FRA And Not Have To Pay Back Any Money To SSA?

my dob is 11-13-56,,,,,,, i receive ssdi , due to open heart triple bypass surgery--- can i enter the work trial 9 month program , 9 months before my fra , and not have to pay ssa back money

Hi. Yes, as long as you haven't previously completed any of your 9 trial work months you could start working within 9 months of your full retirement age (FRA) without your work causing you to lose any of your Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. Your SSDI benefits would then automatically convert to regular Social Security retirement benefits at your FRA, at . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Nov 19 2021 - 10:31am

Is There Any Reason For My DWB Benefit Not Increasing By The Full 5.9% COLA?

A 5.9 cola has been applied to my SSDI but not to my DWB benefits. My DWB benefit increased only $30 per month (which is 3.25 percent increase). Is there a reason for this?

Hi. I don't know of any reason why the 5.9% increase wouldn't apply to both of your benefits. Disabled widow's benefits (DWB) are reduced for age, but your gross amount should still go up by roughly 5.9% once the cost of living (COLA) increase is applied.

The base monthly Part B Medicare premium rate is increasing by $21.60 in 2022, but that wouldn't affect the increase your . . . Read More

Category: Cost Of Living Increases
Posted: Nov 18 2021 - 5:15pm

Is Social Security Moving Everyone's Payment Dates?

is social security moving everyone dates to recieve it or are they leaving it the same? i cant afford to chang my date from the 3rd which i have been getting it to another date which is down the line i usally pay all my bills on the 3rd of the month otherwise ill have to change everything around please let me know if this is true or not i,d prefer it to stay the same.

Hi. Not to my knowledge. What I can tell you is that the rules regarding when a person should be paid their monthly benefits haven't changed since 1997. Based on those rules, most people are . . . Read More

Category: Payment Dates
Posted: Nov 18 2021 - 12:10pm

Can I Continue To Draw My Own Benefits And Then Claim 100% Of My Deceased Husband's Benefit When I Reach FRA?

My husband passed away recently. He waited until he was 70 to claim his SS. He was 10 years older than I, so I claimed my much smaller benefit when I turned 62. I turned 64 in August 2021, and have another 2 plus years before I am FRA. When I called SSA to discuss my Survivor benefit choices, I asked if I had the option of waiting until I was FRA, continuing to receive my benefit untiI I could claim 100% of my deceased husband’s benefit. The SSA person who was assisting me seemed not to understand my question. She told me I would probably be receiving “90 something percent” of . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Nov 18 2021 - 9:52am

If I Start Drawing Benefits In January 2023 Will I Receive The Upcoming 5.9% Cost Of Living Increase?

So if I turn 62 on the 16th of Jan. I would not get the 5.9% increase if I file for benefits at 62. My question is if I wait until Jan 2023 would my estimated benefit be increased by 5.9% plus the 8% increase by waiting until 63 to take benefits.

Hi. No. Since you turn age 62 after January 1 2022 you won't receive the upcoming 5.9% cost of living (COLA) increase no matter when you start drawing your Social Security retirement benefits. You will be credited with all future COLAs that occur after you turn age 62, though, but the first COLA after that won't . . . Read More

Category: Cost Of Living Increases
Posted: Nov 18 2021 - 9:30am

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