Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

When I turn 60 my husband passed away in 2016 and social security told me I had to wait until I turned 60 to get his social security when then can I get mine and would I still get his

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. Assuming that you aren't disabled, the earliest that you could qualify for widow's benefits is age 60, and the earliest that you could qualify for your own benefits is at age 62. You can't draw more than one full benefit simultaneously, though, so if you apply for both your own benefits and for widow's benefits you can only be paid the higher of . . . Read More

I have done some reading, and used online calculators.
(Writing for sister, working, divorced, recently widowed with disabled adult son (disabled long before age 22). Former spouse died in 2020. I know she MUST file for a restricted benefit.

The calculators advise to file for mother benefit, child benefit and survivor benefit now and her social security at 70. Then the calculators show zero for the mother benefit? There is also an earnings test and she will lose much of the survivor benefit (looks like 11,000 a year).

I have read: "It is important to note . . . Read More

My son's mother passed away in 2012. She was unmarried at the time of her death. My son and his half brother both both receive survivor benefits in the amount of $726.00. My son's half brother will turn 18 and graduate from high school shortly after his birthday in early 2022. Will my son's benefit amount increase at that time? Her survivor benefits are not going to any other spouse or child, just split between my son and his half brother. Thanks in advance.

Hi. No. The family maximum benefit (FMB) amount payable on a deceased worker's record is always at . . . Read More

HELLO Larry , I had been collecting SSDI benefits for 5 years .. Here is a complex question When I first became disabled , I had a long term disability policy thru my employer , that paid me roughly 60 percent of my salary about 4000 monthly thru a Prudential policy , However , once I was awarded SSDI about 2000 monthly the Prudential , pro rated their payment to 2000 , So I wasn't getting anything more than the 4000.0 And once I reached FRA the Prudential ceased their payment . SSDI was automatically changed to SS . So , since the Prudential ,pro rated their original . . . Read More