Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

Displaying 2261 - 2270 of 10063 questions.

Will My Daughter Be Required To Enroll In Medicare When She's First Eligible?

Hi Larry,

Our disabled adult child (DAC) started collecting SSDI at age 34. She is currently receiving Medicaid, which allows her to attend a special needs program under a Medicaid waiver. She will be eligible for Medicare after being on SSDI for two years (next year at age 36). We don't want to jeopardize the benefits she's receiving under the Medicaid waiver, so we're hesitant to put her on Medicare at that time. Is there a timeframe around her 36th birthday where she is required to enroll in Medicare, or can she enroll in it when she is older without penalty?

. . . Read More

Category: Medicare
Posted: Jul 14 2021 - 12:51pm

Will Applying For Food Stamps For My Brother Reduce His SSI Benefits?

My mother who was paying a portion of all the bills in my home recently moved out to help improve her mental health. since she has moved out my younger brother still lives with me & my grandfather. my mother receives SSI benefits & foodstamps for my brother, and originally when i applied for food stamps i got declined. my mother is willing to take my brother off her foodstamp benefits so i can apply for them again with him included in my household, but will doing so affect his SSI benefits? Also, since i am now my grandfathers caregiver do i include his income in my . . . Read More

Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: Jul 13 2021 - 12:53pm

Can I Collect Spousal Benefits?

Can I collect spousal benefits I am disabled I receive a disability pension 1700 dollars a month I did not pay into social security don’t have Enough Quarters I am 65

Hi. There's not enough information in your question for me to be able to give you a good answer. To potentially qualify for spousal benefits you'd need to be married to someone who's drawing Social Security retirement or disability benefits. You don't mention what type of disability pension you receive, but if the pension is based on your work for a U.S. governmental (e.g. federal, state, . . . Read More

Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Jul 13 2021 - 11:04am

Is What We Have In Mind A Good Strategy?

My wife is 63, I'm 57. She hasn't worked in a few years but has worked enough for full benefits. If she starts collecting now, and i wait till I'm 70, is this a good strategy. We want to use her benefit to buy property. If I die before her, would she then get my full benefit?

Hi. The best strategy in your case likely depends largely on your and your wife's comparative benefit rates, but assuming that your full benefit amount would be significantly higher than your wife's then I wouldn't argue with the strategy you have in mind. Even if your wife starts . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jul 13 2021 - 9:15am

What Should We Do Now?

My husband date of birth is 07/30/1955 and we want to suspend his ss and he return to work on June 3rd , 2021, we both were out of work because of Covid-19, now I am unemployed and my DOB I am currently getting unemployment, what should we do now that he can get ss and what strategies is beneficial toward our situation, we both worked and can get our own SS when the time is right

Hi. I'm a bit confused by your question. You mention wanting to suspend your husband's Social Security, but then later ask what should you do so that he can get SS. So, I don't . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jul 12 2021 - 6:33pm

Who Can I Marry If I Want To Leave My SS To Someone?

born on 9/11/54. single. want to leave my ss to someone. who can i marry . and what would her statuss have to be.

Hi. You can't leave benefits to someone in a will, but if you're survived by a spouse then they may be able to qualify for survivor benefits from your record. The eligibility requirements for widow's benefits are outlined in the following section of Social Security's handbook: https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook-0401.html.

Best, Jerry . . . Read More

Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Jul 12 2021 - 6:29pm

Can I Get Married To Someone On Disability And Keep Getting Benefits?

My birth day 08/11/1960, my question is, can i get married to someone else that's on disability and we both keep it

Hi. Getting married wouldn't cause any changes to a person's Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, so if that's what you and your prospective spouse are receiving then you'll still be able to collect your benefits if you marry. The only type of benefits that could be reduced or stopped if you got married after reaching age 60 are Supplemental Security Income (SSI), divorced spousal benefits, or disabled adult child's benefits.

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Category: Marriage
Posted: Jul 12 2021 - 6:20pm

Why Wasn't I Paid For Any Months Prior To Last November?

I turned 62 in April 2020. This is when all this was just starting with the pandemic. I called every single week all the way up to Nov. before I was finally able to talk to someone. They gave me a phone apt. for Dec. Well the lady calls we go through everything end of conversation. When I started receiving it I got paid 1050$ for 2 months. Ok then they started paying me 814$ a month. No explanation why it changed no letter anything. When I called them she still didnt answer why it changed . I also ask why I didnt receive payment from April til now and she said we dont go back. . . . Read More

Category: Filing For Early Retirement Benefits
Posted: Jul 12 2021 - 5:30pm

Is It Common For Social Security To WIthhold Back Pay?

I was awarded my social security ssdi and ssi Jan of 2020. I recieved my first payment for back pay (ssi) in March 2020 and I was contacted on Sep 2020 to check in on to see if I was capable of handling my money to release the remanding back pay (ssdi). They said the remaining back pay is 56,076 which seems right since I get only 1,164 a month and they retro approved to Jan 2015. I have yet to recieved the 56k and that has been almost a year ago now it was supposed to be released. I have contacted the SSA and they keep giving me a run around. Should I contact a lawyer? Is this . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Jul 11 2021 - 7:35pm

How Much Can I Earn Monthly If I'm On Partial Disability?

Am on partial disability can I still work and if so how much can I team monthly

Hi. I have no idea what you mean by 'partial disability', since there's no such thing as a partial disability benefit paid by Social Security. Social Security does pay disability benefits, but you must be classified as being unable to do any type of substantial gainful work (SGA) in order to qualify for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. The monthly earnings amount that Social Security considers to be SGA in 2021 is anything above $1310 per month, so if you're . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Jul 11 2021 - 7:21pm
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