I have been on disability since 1995.
I married a millionaire in 2000. We divorced in 2005. He has since passed. I am now 63 years old. Neither one of us have/had remarried. Am I entitled to any of his benefits?
Hi. No. You would need to have been married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years to be able to qualify for survivor benefits from his account.
Best, Jerry
My wife worked until around 10 years ago. She has become a homemaker since then. We are both 49 years old. I have a full time job and a small pension to pay our bills and whatnot. My question is can my wife claim her social security at 62 and then switch to spousal social security when I retire at 67?
Hi. No, your wife can't start drawing her own benefit first and later switch to drawing spousal benefits. Since your wife was born after January 1 1954 she'll be deemed to be applying for both her own Social Security retirement benefits and for spousal . . . Read More
Larry, I will begin Medicare in January of 2022 the same time I retire. I’m highly compensated now so my part B premium will be high but my 2022 income will be significantly lower. I can’t see how to fill out SSA 44 in this case. Can you help?
Hi. Sorry, but I'm really not familiar with that form nor those specific Medicare regulations. I see that the form (https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-44-ext.pdf) has several pages of step by step instructions, so I would suggest following those directions. If that . . . Read More
I’m a retired school teacher with a $2,700 monthly state pension. At my full retirement SSA age of 66, I requested a spousal benefit from ex husbands account. I qualified for one but told it was $0 because of GPO.
Question. When my ex husband dies will I qualify for 100% of his PIA? With the 100% instead of 50%, the GPO should result in a benefit greater than $0.
Will I need to request the benefit or will it be paid automatically?
Hi. If your ex-husband dies you could potentially qualify for an unreduced survivor benefit equal to the amount he . . . Read More
I am retired and have 2 minor children. I have read everything that I can find online to figure out the formula for my children’s benefits. It seems that what the SSA is calculating is the lesser amount of those. How can I verify that I am getting what I am entitled to?
Hi. Unless reduced due to the family maximum benefit (FMB) limit, the benefit rate for a child receiving benefits on the account of a living parent is calculated at 50% of their parent's primary insurance amount (PIA). A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate . . . Read More
Can I apply for child survival benefits if I'm an adult on ssi I been disabled at age 20 but I wasn't on ssi
Hi. You can always apply, but to eligible for disabled adult child's (DAC) benefits it would have to be determined that you became disabled according to Social Security standards prior to turning age 22. You'd also need to have a parent who is either drawing Social Security retirement or disability benefits or who is deceased and was insured for Social Security benefits.
Proving that you were disabled prior to age 22 can be difficult . . . Read More
I’m currently receiving Sadi and long term disability. Will I lose my disability benefits if I rent my home to someone on section 8?
Hi. I assume you meant to type SSDI, which is the abbreviation for Social Security disability benefits. Renting your home to someone wouldn't have any effect on your SSDI benefits regardless of who you rent to. Long term disability is private insurance, not Social Security, so I can't tell you whether or not those benefits might be affected.
Best, Jerry
My husband has been on total disability for 12 years I am not 62 and have NOT worked so I could be the one to care for him so should I draw off my own or can I draw from his record he draws 1678. A month I would only draw like 480. On my record
Hi. I'm assuming that you don't have a child in your care who eligible for benefits on your husband's record and who is under age 16 or is disabled. Since you were born after January 1 1954, whenever you apply for either your own benefits or for spousal benefits you'll be deemed to be applying for both benefits. . . . Read More
Hello Larry, I am currently collecting a small municipal pension and am eligible to retire and collect a state pension soon. According to ss.gov I will be entitled to 850 a month at full retirement age which I understand will be diminished by the Windfall Elimination Provision. If I work post retirement and before collecting SS will that change the way the WEP is applied? Thank you, Eric
Hi Eric. The only way that additional work for earnings that are subject to Social Security taxes could affect the way the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is applied . . . Read More
What effect does SSDI have on my bank account ?
Hi. I'm not sure what you're asking. If you're drawing Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits you can have those benefits deposited directly in your bank account. Otherwise, SSDI wouldn't affect your bank account.
Best, Jerry
Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.