Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

Displaying 2921 - 2930 of 10063 questions.

What Can I Do To Make Sure That Social Security Computed By Benefit Amount Correctly?

I retired at 62 and applied for SS benefits, i am 68 now but my relatives keep telling me that I get a lot less then they get and that there must be an error on my calculation of my benefits by SS. What can I do or who can I contact to make sure they did it correct?

Hi,

You could submit a written request to Social Security asking them to recompute your benefit rate. The form normally used for that purpose is an SSA-795 (https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-795.pdf). I should note, though, that unless you . . . Read More

Category: Recomputations
Posted: Jan 9 2021 - 4:37pm

Would I Be Able To Apply For DAC Benefits?

I got my dads social security when I was a teen in his care. I wasn’t disabled at the time. I got married at 16 and no longer got my dads social security. I became disabled around 18 and divorced a few months later. Would I be able to apply for DAC?

Hi,

You can always apply, but it doesn't sound like you could qualify for disabled adult child's (DAC) benefits on your father's record. A marriage that occurs during or after a prior period of entitlement to child's benefits would preclude re-entitlement to benefits on the same parent's account, unless . . . Read More

Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: Jan 9 2021 - 4:23pm

Am I Eligible To Get VA Disability Benefits?

im married dec. 30, 2020 we meet aug. 2019 so we live in for 1 1/2 years. My husband died jan. 3 2021 because of
ANTECENDENT CAUSE: acute myocardial infarction
UNDERLYING CAUSE: Hypertensive cardiovascular disease; diabetes mellitus type 2.
i will ask if im eligible to get benefits of VA DISABILITY?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I can't tell you whether or not you might qualify for VA benefits because my expertise is limited to Social Security benefits. With regard to Social Security benefits, it doesn't sound likely that you . . . Read More

Category: Veterans Benefits
Posted: Jan 9 2021 - 8:27am

If I Get Divorced And Then Get Approved For DAC Would I Keep My DAC If I Remarry And If My Spouse Is Drawing Social Security Benefits?

If I divorce my current spouse and get approved for DAC would I keep DAC if my ex spouse gets social security and we end up remarrying to each other again?

Hi,

That would be possible unless you previously collected child benefits or disabled adult child's (DAC) benefits from the same parent's account. Except in rare cases, you can't become re-entitled (i.e. entitled for a second time) to child or DAC benefits on the same parent's account if you married after your prior period of entitlement, even if you've since gotten divorced ( . . . Read More

Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: Jan 9 2021 - 7:50am

What Will Happen To My Medical Coverage When I Start Receiving My Social Security Retirement Benefits?

I am on SSI and just turned 62 so am forced to now receive ss retirement benefits. What happens to my disability medical coverage?

Hi,

I can't give you a definite answer since I don't know what kind of medical coverage you have, or how much your Social Security retirement benefit will be. Medicaid is a needs based benefit, so if that's the medical coverage that you have then your continuing eligibility probably depends on the amount of your Social Security benefit. If your Social Security benefit rate is lower than your SSI rate, then it probably . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Jan 8 2021 - 2:12pm

How Should My Husband Proceed In Order To Get His Benefit Rate Corrected?

SSA has reduced my husband's SS benefit because he is also receiving a Canadian pension. The problem is that the WEP reduction was based on his pension in Canadian dollars, which resulted in a reduction of more than 50% of his Canadian pension, if converted to US dollars. He appealed this decision and after waiting 5 months for SSA's reply they didn't even address the concern of not converting Canadian dollars to US dollars. The "form" letter indicated that he would have to go through an ALJ hearing as the next step. Tried calling the local SSA office and the National number, . . . Read More

Category: Filing An Appeal
Posted: Jan 8 2021 - 10:31am

How Do I Find Out From SSA If My Ex-Wife Dies?

I'm certain that my ex-wife's daughters will not notify me when she dies. How do I find out from the SSA that she's passed? (e.g. what forms, fees etc)

Hi,

Even if Social Security knows that a person is deceased, they can't release that information unless it's required as part of their operations. For example, if you apply for survivor benefits then Social Security would be required to inform you whether or not you qualify for benefits.

I don't know of any way to find out from Social Security whether or not your wife is deceased other than . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Jan 8 2021 - 8:27am

How Much Will My Wife's Monthly Benefit Be If She Claims Spousal Benefits At Age 62?

Hi Larry,
I began collecting my SS benefit at full retirement age. I am currently collecting $3,O00 monthly. My wife would like to retire at age 62. At full retirement age, she would receive $1,980 monthly.

How much will her monthly benefit be is she claims spousal benefits at age 62?

Thank you

Hi,

Your wife can't claim spousal benefits without claiming her own benefits at the same time. Only people born prior to January 2 1954 can do that, and only if they wait until full retirement age (FRA) or later to claim spousal benefits. . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jan 8 2021 - 8:19am

Would It Be More Advantageous For Me To Collect On My Own Record Or My Ex-Husband's Record?

Hello,
I am currently working and living in the Netherlands. I have lived and worked overseas for the past 17 years. My home state is Iowa. I turn 65 in July, 2021. I was married for 17 years. I have not remarried since my divorce in 2001. My question concerns whether it would be more advantageous for me to collect on my ex-husbands SS rather than mine. I worked stateside in Wisconsin for 17 years. My ex-husband has been collecting on his SS for 6 years. He turned 69 in December. Your advice is appreciated. Regards.

Hi,

Since you were born after . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jan 7 2021 - 5:49pm

Would Social Security Withhold My Husband's Benefits Due To His Earnings From January To March?

Hi Larry, both my husband and I will be laid off in the very near future. Husband is going to file application to collect social security retirement benefits. He would like to begin collecting either in January 2021, February 2021, March 2021 or April 2021 depending on what you might be able to tell us. Hi is 65, and would reach FRA on Sept. 4, 2021 (birthday is 7/4/1955).

Our daughter is 11 years old. I will be 49 years old this January 12, 2021.

We would like to make sure that filing before Nick's layoff date won't cause lost benefits. Nick's layoff date is . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Jan 7 2021 - 5:24pm
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.