Is My Friend Entitled To More Money Now That She's Reached Her Full Retirement Age?
Ok Larry a friend of mine received ssdi from her benefits for 30 yrs. She now reached her full retiremen is she entitled tomore money plus widows which she has been collecting for 30 yrs
Hi. The rate of your friend's Social Security disability (SSDI) benefit won't change when she reaches full retirement age (FRA). SSDI benefits automatically convert to regular Social Security retirement benefits when a person reaches FRA, but their monthly benefit rate stays the same.
If your friend is just now reaching FRA then she couldn't have been collecting . . . Read More
Category: Disabled Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Oct 15 2021 - 6:18am
How Can I Check To See If I Am Being Underpaid By SS?
I am having a terrible time with Social Security . My birthday is 5/3/51
I have a complicated profile- I took SS early when I was out of work in 2013- then went back to work, started making too much money and had to pay back benefits pretty regularly until I hit my full retirement age of 66. I then was able to suspend ( although it was not easy to find someone at SS who knew I was entitled to suspend).
I also was never able to take advantage of any spousal benefits from my ex- husband ( married for 23 years) according to SS.
In May 2021, i turned 70, . . . Read More
Category: Benefit Amount
Posted: Oct 14 2021 - 2:43pm
Why Did I Get A $45 Deposit From SSA Today?
Why did I get $45.00 deposit from SSA today 10/14/2021
Hi. I have no way of knowing why you received a deposit. Sometimes people will receive extra or irregular Social Security benefit payments as a result of benefit recomputations. The most common cause of a recomputation is to include additional earnings that the person had after starting to draw benefits, but I don't know if that's what caused your deposit.
In any case, when Social Security sends payments other than regular monthly benefits they also normally mail a notice explaining the payment . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Oct 14 2021 - 12:59pm
Will My Benefit Be Credited With The 5.9% COLA If I Turn 62 In December 2021?
I turn 62 on 12/26/21. If I opt to start taking SS in Dec 2022 (age 63), will my benefits see the 5.9% COLA increase that is due to happen in 2022?
Hi. Yes. People born prior to January 2 1960 will have the upcoming 5.9% cost of living (COLA) increase added to their Social Security retirement benefit rate regardless of when they start drawing their benefits.
Best, Jerry
Category: Cost Of Living Increases
Posted: Oct 14 2021 - 7:57am
How Do I Find Out If My Estranged Husband Has Died?
I received a letter from my caseworker and stated sorry to hear the loss of a family member and has my estranged husband. How do I find out if this is correct?
Hi. If you know the state where your husband died you could request a death certificate from their division of vital statistics. Or, if you're potentially eligible for survivor benefits from Social Security then you could probably find out when and if your husband has died by calling Social Security. In order to be potentially eligible for survivor benefits you'd need to be at least age 60 or at . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Oct 14 2021 - 7:46am
If I Turn 62 In December 2022 And If I File For Early Retirement Will I Receive The Newly Announced 5.9% COLA?
Hi, my question is if I turn 62 in dec of 2022 and file for early retirement, I understand I won't get my first check until jan 2023 but will I get the newly announced 5.9% cola raise for 2022?. my current benefit as of now if I retire at 62 would be $1400 a month. so would I get the 5.9% boost on my check to raise it to $1485? or would I have to wait until the next cola adjustment?
Hi. No. People born after January 1 1960 will not receive the 5.9% cost of living (COLA) increase in their Social Security retirement benefit rate regardless of when they start . . . Read More
Category: Cost Of Living Increases
Posted: Oct 13 2021 - 6:23pm
Will The Just Announced COLA Apply To Benefit Rates For People Born In 1960?
Larry,
In one of your pages you stated- Starting with the year in which you reach age 62, your retirement rate is credited with any subsequent COLA increases as calculated using Social Security's formula (https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/latestCOLA.html). Such COLA increases are added to your benefit rate regardless of whether or not you start receiving benefits at age 62.
My question - I am one of the (mis) "fortunate" born in 1960. I will be 62 in 2022. Will the just announced COLA increase of 5.9% be . . . Read More
Category: Cost Of Living Increases
Posted: Oct 13 2021 - 6:14pm
If I Work And Don't Go Over The Monthly Limit Will I Continue To Receive The Same SSDI Benefit Rate?
If i work while on SSDI and do not go over the monthly limit, will i continue to receive the same amount on my checks?
Hi. Yes. Social Security disability (SSDI) benefit rates are calculated based on your past earnings. Any current earnings that you have couldn't cause your SSDI rate to be reduced, although if you earn too much you could potentially cause your SSDI benefits to be suspended or terminated. For more detailed information, refer to the following Social Security publication: https://www.ssa.gov . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Oct 13 2021 - 4:08pm
Will I Lose My SSI If I Sell My Trailer And Give The Proceeds To Another Person?
If I draw SSI and sold my trailer for $8,500 and gave that $8,500 to another person to buy their house on land contract will I lose my SSI
Hi. Yes, you probably would. The limit on the amount of assets that you can have and still be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is $2000. The value of a home in which you live is not counted toward the asset limit, but if you sell your home then the proceeds from the sale do count as an asset unless you use the proceeds to buy a new home to live in. You can't simply give away money in order to stay under . . . Read More
Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: Oct 13 2021 - 3:57pm
If I'm Approved For Disability Benefits Would It Benefit Me To Withdraw My Retirement Application?
Dear Larry,
I have a complicated set of scenarios and need your advice. I bought your Maximize software but what I have in mind is beyond the average strategy.
For financial reasons… I filed online two months ago (Aug 2021) for both my Retirement and Disability simultaneously. I was 64.8 yrs old, divorced (over 10 yrs of marriage). The Retirement was immediately granted and I’m waiting on the decision regarding the Disability. I have no doubt that I will be granted Disability and receive twelve months back pay.
I am trying to find a way to continue benefits . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Oct 13 2021 - 3:02pm
