Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

Displaying 1851 - 1860 of 10063 questions.

Do I Have To Apply For Ex-Spouse Benefits At Age 62 Since I Receive SSI?

I receive SSI. I will turn 62 on Jan 27. I am qualified for ex spouse benefits. Do I have to apply for those benefits at 62 since I do receive SSI ?

Hi. If you're drawing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and if you don't apply for any type of Social Security benefits for which you qualify as soon as you're eligible, then Social Security will stop paying your SSI benefits. SSI is a needs based program, and one of the requirements for eligibility is that you apply for any Social Security benefits for which you're eligible.

So technically you wouldn' . . . Read More

Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: Oct 9 2021 - 6:57pm

What Happens If I Sign Up Now For My Social Security If I'm Drawing Disability?

Hi Larry, My question is. I am currently on disability, What happens if I go ahead and sign up now. I will be 65 in November. Will I draw more or less Will disability stop added to. I just don’t know. Thank you for your help

Hi. My answer assumes that what you're receiving is Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. If you switch from SSDI benefits to Social Security retirement benefits prior to your full retirement age (FRA), your benefit rate goes down. That's because Social Security retirement benefits are reduced for age if you start collecting . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Oct 9 2021 - 6:50pm

Am I Still Entitled To Receive Benefits From My LTD Policy Until Age 65?

Hello. I became disabled 11/16/2010 due to several autoimmune diseases. When I left& after my STD ended I was approved for LTD thru my employer w/Metlife. They paid me 60% & once I was approved for SSD the total of my SSD& the dependent SSD for my 2 juvenile children, the SSD benefits took care of my 60%. I was reading my Metlife policy& it states that if disabled under age60 that eligibility runs to age 65 at 60%. I only received the dependent amount until June2019 when my youngest graduated high school. Since then I have only been in receipt of my individual . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Oct 9 2021 - 6:40pm

Will I Be Able To File For SS After I Move Overseas?

I plan to move overseas before 62, will i be able to file for ss from there when i turn 62.

Hi. Yes. For information on filing for U.S. Social Security benefits while living abroad, refer to the following Social Security website: https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/foreign.htm.

Best, Jerry

Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: Oct 9 2021 - 6:36pm

Do I Need To Remain Patient?

My FRA is 66 (DOB: 11/12/52). I claimed my own benefits at age 67 & 7 months in July, 2020. I have been receiving the benefit reported in my benefit statement as of Jan. 1st, 2020. I understood the benefit would be adjusted on Jan. 2021 to reflect the additional seven months I waited to claim benefits. Upon my first call the representative said the adjustment would be made 6/1/ 21. Nothing happened. I called again in August and the rep. said they are understaffed and he did not know when they would get to this. Do you have any other info on this? This will result in a 4.67 . . . Read More

Category: Delayed Retirement Credits
Posted: Oct 8 2021 - 4:33pm

Am I Getting The Run Around?

I'm going to be 62 in April and currently collect a small non government pension of $813 monthly which was reduced because I had to take it early due to my ex husband deciding to leave for someone else after 40 yrs of marriage.. I had not worked for the past 5 yrs and was not prepared for for the devastating financial loss. It was a high conflict divorce and I took a higher loss. The constant stress has wreaked havoc on my physical and mental health. I filed for disability and qualified under my physical diagnosis however I had a couple of retirement accounts that disqualified . . . Read More

Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Oct 8 2021 - 6:04am

Am I Wrong In My Thinking?

I've been asked to pay back $10,000+ to SSA in 30 days because I retired at the end of the school year at age 62 and began receiving benefits for the remaining 6 mos. They now say I shouldn't have received any payments because of the teaching salary I earned for the 1st half of the year. My position is that the money I earned in 2019 from teaching was pre-retirement money. I didn't earn ANY money once my SS benefits started. Am I wrong in my thinking? I have appealed their decision, but they've not been very transparent about where I stand in this process. I've been sent form . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Oct 7 2021 - 7:13pm

Is It Correct That Earnings After Age 70 Won't Change My SSA Payment?

I am 70 started collecting SS benefits January of this 2021. I believe I have 29 years of substantial earnings. and the SSA is using a factor .85 rather than .9 for the first 996 of earnings.. I have a possible employment opportunity starting in 2021 that would result in substantial earnings for the year (certainly for 2022) Person who answered the phone at SSA claims any earnings after I am 70 won't change my SSA payment. Is this correct?

Hi. No, assuming that you're collecting your own Social Security retirement benefits. Your Social Security retirement . . . Read More

Category: Calculating Retirement Benefits
Posted: Oct 7 2021 - 5:25pm

If I File For My Own Benefits At Age 62 And If My Spouse Dies Before I'm FRA, Can I Wait Until FRA To Apply For Survivor Benefits?

I will claim my own SS Benefits at age 62. If my husband dies before I am FRA, how much time do I have to file for survivor benefits? Do I have to do it right away, or can I wait until I am FRA? What if there are several years in between my husband's death and my FRA?

Hi. If you're drawing your own Social Security retirement or disability benefits and if your spouse dies before you reach your full retirement age (FRA), then yes you would have the option of waiting until your FRA to claim unreduced survivor benefits.

However, if your spouse starts . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Oct 7 2021 - 5:11pm

Should My Partner And I Get Married?

Should my live in partner and myself marry after 16 years. He has asked me and I have said yes. We are just dragging our feet on putting together a date to go do it.

Hi. I can only answer questions about Social Security benefits, and there isn't enough information in your question for me to be able to determine what if any effect getting married may have on your benefit options. In general I can tell you that if either you or your partner were previously married, then getting married could potentially adversely affect your ability to collect benefits from . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Oct 7 2021 - 5:00pm
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