Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

Displaying 2151 - 2160 of 10063 questions.

How Can I Get A Social Security Card If I Have No Proof Of Identification?

Hi Larry my name is Jose I was wondering how would I get my social security card if I have no identification no birth certificate or anything to prove my identification to receive a new ssc?

Hi Jose. The short answer is that you can't get a Social Security card without presenting proof of your identity. The following Social Security website explains what documents can be used as proof of identity for the purpose of obtaining a new or replacement Social Security card: https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm . . . Read More

Category: Social Security Numbers
Posted: Aug 2 2021 - 9:30am

Can I Get An Increase In My SSDI Payment?

I'm on ssdi and receive 1026 monthly. My rent is 900. Can 8 get an increase in my ssdi payment

Hi. Probably not. Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits are based on an average of a variable number of your highest earnings years. Basically, the older you were when you become disabled, the more years that would have been used to calculate your benefit rate.

In other words, your benefit rate is calculated strictly based on your Social Security covered earnings history. Your expenditures such as rental expenses have no effect on how much you can . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Aug 2 2021 - 9:20am

Will I Acquire More Credits If I Work As A Substitute Teacher?

Hi- I am a retired teacher in TX, I left teaching briefly’ when I returned they started taking out for Social Security so I have 28 credits, if I work as a Substitute teacher will I acquire more credits?

Hi. Possibly. You can earn a quarter of Social Security coverage (QC), up to a maximum of 4 QCs, for each $1470 that you earn this year, but only if you pay Social Security taxes on the earnings (https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/QC.html). I have no way of knowing whether or not the substitute teaching that . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Subject To Social Security Taxes
Posted: Aug 2 2021 - 9:07am

How Big A Drop In Monthly Benefits Would I Incur If I Stop Working At Age 65?

I would like to stop working at 65 but not claim Social Security until my full retirement age of 67. However, I will have exactly 35 years of earnings on my record at 65, but two of those years are very low wage. If I work till 67 I would add $150,000 to my total earnings. How big of a drop in monthly benefits would I incur if I surrender those two highest income years?

Hi. The benefit formula for calculating retirement benefits is too complex for me to be able to give you any dollar estimates without knowing your full year-by-year Social Security earnings . . . Read More

Category: Calculating Retirement Benefits
Posted: Aug 1 2021 - 1:42pm

Will My Younger Child's Benefit Increase When The Oldest Child's Benefits Stop?

Hello. I have two dependents who receive survivor social security benefits. The oldest has reached 18 and graduated from high school. Will the younger child benefits increase?

Hi. No, not if it's just the 2 dependent children who are receiving survivor benefits. The maximum surviving child's benefit rate is equal to 75% of the deceased worker's primary insurance amount (PIA). Up to 2 surviving children can always be paid their full maximum benefit rate if they are the only survivors drawing benefits on a deceased worker's record. The only time that a . . . Read More

Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Aug 1 2021 - 12:26pm

Can I Draw From My Husband's Social Security When I Reach Retirement Age?

If I am 19 years older than my husband he is 31 and I am 50 at this time when I reach the age to draw social security can I draw from my husbands social security??

Another question is …..
If I was married over 8 years and I bear a child with my ex husband and that child is now 29 can I draw from his social security ??

Hi. You can't qualify for Social Security spousal benefits on the record of a current spouse unless your spouse is receiving either Social Security retirement or disability (SSDI) benefits. And, you can't collect benefits from . . . Read More

Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Aug 1 2021 - 12:16pm

Can I Receive My SSI With My Retirement Pay?

Can I still receive my SSI income with my retirement pay. I'm still disabled.

Hi. The abbreviation SSI means different things to different people, but if what you're receiving is Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and if you also receive retirement pay, the retirement pay would offset your SSI payments roughly dollar for dollar. However, if you're receiving Social Security retirement or disability (SSDI) benefits, then your retirement pay wouldn't reduce your Social Security payment amount unless perhaps the retirement pay is based on your earnings on . . . Read More

Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: Aug 1 2021 - 12:06pm

Which Months Of My Earnings Count Toward The Earnings Limit?

I started receiving my Social Security benefits March of 2021 at the age of 65 and 2 months. My full retirement age is 66 and 4 months. I am restricted to making $18960 without penalty. does the $18960 ceiling go thru December 2021 and start over in January 2022? does it go from March 2021 thru March 2022 and start over in April 2022 until I reach 66 and 4 months full retirement age on May 18, 2022?

Hi. The exempt amount of $18,960 is the amount you can earn from January 1 2021 through December 31 2021 without losing any of your benefits this year. If you . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Aug 1 2021 - 11:55am

What Are Your Thoughts On My Using A Restricted Application?

Larry,

My spouse will turn 70 in June of 2022 and will take his social security benefits at that time. I was born in October, 1953 and am wanting to restrict my application to my spousal benefit, and wish to delay my own retirement benefit in order to maximize my credits until I turn 70. From reading the rules and regs on filing a restricted application, I believe that I would be able to take advantage of this remaining benefit. So what this means to me, is that I will be able to draw 1/2 of his ss benefit from June of 2022 until I turn 70 in October 2023 -- at that time . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jul 31 2021 - 2:59pm

Can I File For Survivor Benefits Now?

My wife died of pancreatic cancer in 2012. Can I file for benefits now? Is there a time limit?

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. You don't mention your age nor whether or not you're drawing your own benefits, so I can't give you a complete answer. You may be able to qualify for widower benefits if you're at least age 60 or you're at least age 50 and disabled. You'd also need to be unmarried, or if you've remarried you'd need to have gotten remarried after reaching age 60, or after age 50 and after the date you qualify for disabled widower benefits. And, if . . . Read More

Category: Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Jul 31 2021 - 10:01am
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