Can My Wife Start Getting Her Own Benefits At Age 62 And Later Get Half Of My Benefit When I Retire?
Hi Larry, I’m 58 and plan to retire at 70 or later. My wife is 61 and will be eligible to receive some benefits obviously next year at 62. My wife has not worked on a job very much and would only receive $237.00 or so a month. Can she retire at 62 and get that money and later get half of what I make when I retire? Or should she wait until I retire? We’re not sure how this works. Thanks Larry
Hi. No. Your wife is free to start drawing her own benefits as early as age 62, but she'll be stuck with the resulting reduction in her own rate for as long as both of . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Aug 10 2021 - 1:44pm
Am I Allowed To Apply For My Deceased Husband's SS If I Draw Retirement Money From The California Teacher's Retirement System?
Am I allowed to apply for my husband’s SS after his death if I draw retirement money from my California teachers retirement system
Hi. You can apply for widow's benefits as early as age 60, but if you're receiving a pension based on your earnings from a governmental agency (e.g. federal, state, local) that were exempt from Social Security taxes, then your widow's benefit would likely be offset by 2/3rds of your governmental pension (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf). So, it sounds like whether . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Aug 10 2021 - 9:54am
Why Can't Disabled Widow's Get More?
I'm receiving disability payments for myself for about 10 years or more. My husband passed away last June of 2020. He was working up until he died and was the main wage earner. They said I could only get the difference between my disability and what he would have gotten. That came to additional $10 a month. Why isn’t there more help for disabled widows and why can’t they get more?
Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. The Social Security Act that was passed into law by Congress bars people from receiving more than one full Social Security benefit at a time. So, . . . Read More
Category: Disabled Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Aug 10 2021 - 9:36am
How Will Moving To Another State Affect My Mother's Benefits?
Larry,
First and foremost, I want to express my sincerest gratitude for all that you do. It can be extremely difficult to get direct answers at the local Social Security Administration office, especially when each answer differs from employee to employee. Thanks again :-) Some background information:
First and foremost, my mother, who currently lives in Philadelphia, was permanently disabled by an underaged drunk driver in the early 90's. It took approximately 2 years for her to receive any benefits from SSI/SSD. Even worse, my mother wasn't fairly compensated . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Aug 10 2021 - 8:09am
Will My Wife And I Have Any Problems If We Move To France?
I'm 67 & currently collecting Social Security. My wife is 61 & our intention is for her to collect Spousal Benefits when she turns 62 next year. We are moving to France in the next few months; should we anticipate any problems with her applying for Social Security while we're living in France (we're both U.S. citizens)?
Hi. None that I know of. Moving to France wouldn't affect your entitlement to benefits. If your wife can't apply online or by contacting Social Security directly, there are instructions for applying on the following Social Security . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Aug 10 2021 - 7:59am
Who Is Supposed To Get The $255 Lump Sum Payment?
My husband died in june and he was receiving Social Security he died he was 69 and who is suspose to get the 255.00 lump sum payment
Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. The $255 lump sum death benefit can be paid to a surviving spouse who was either living with the deceased individual at the time of death or who was eligible for survivor benefits on the deceased's record for the month or death. Or, if no surviving spouse is eligible for the lump sum death payment, it can be paid to a child who was eligible for benefits on the deceased person's record in the . . . Read More
Category: Lump sum
Posted: Aug 9 2021 - 1:37pm
Is It True That My Grandson Can't Receive Money From Both CPS And SSI?
I have just taken in two grandchildren 2 and 3. I am getting paid by CPS an amount each month. My grandson was on SSI monies until placed in our home. We have not received any SSI money. I was told we can not get CPS money and SSI money. Is this c true? What other monies might I be eligible for. The grandson has just had open-heart surgery and still has severe issues. Thank you. I have a second question. The mother is receiving all stimulus monies and filed children on her income tax and we have had children over a year. How do I get this changed over with the IRS and get the . . . Read More
Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: Aug 9 2021 - 1:19pm
Can My Sister In Law Get Survivor Benefits For Her Grandchildren?
My brother was married but lived separately from his wife when he died ( they were on good terms but couldn't live together.They were not legally separated and he helped care for thier 2 grandchildren whom she had adopted.When my brother passed ,social security told her that she was not entitled to surviver benefits for the granchildren because my brother did not live with them and was not on the adoption papers.My brother was 62 and was taking early social security.Is there any way that my sister in lawShe works as an assistant in a drug rehab facility and makes about 14$/hr . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Aug 9 2021 - 10:41am
Is It Correct That My Social Security Earnings Record Shows My Net Earnings?
I will soon be requesting my retirement benefits to start on my 70th birthday this December (and not a day earlier - in the remarks section). In reviewing my taxed SS Earnings record there are a few years where the SS earnings are less than the gross earnings on my 1040 form. It looks like SS is reporting my self employment earnings net of expenses rather than the gross earnings. Is that correct? Should I make an appointment with a local SS office to review before filing for benefits?
Hi. Yes. You only pay Social Security taxes on your net earnings from . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Subject To Social Security Taxes
Posted: Aug 9 2021 - 10:34am
Why Won't I Receive Full SS If I Get A Pension From The City Of Birmingham?
I have a city of Birmingham pension and we didn’t pay into social security during working years. I worked other jobs that paid into SS during my working years. I was told I would not receive full SS because of the windfall law or another law. Why?
Hi. The reason why it sounds like your Social Security retirement benefit rate will be lowered is because of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). The WEP was passed into Social Security law by Congress in 1983, and since then people who receive both Social Security retirement or disability (SSDI) benefits . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Aug 9 2021 - 10:25am
