Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

Hi Larry,

I helped my ex husband file for social security disability benefits around 2014 for his illness and he was approved benefits. I was unaware at the time of doing his on line application of this time should maybe count as credits for his 4 years served in the 1990's . My ex husband has passed in 2016 from his illness and I am single mother raising his son that is 15, I wanted to know how do I go about making sure that his record reflects his credit if he was entitled to receive this on his social security record.

Thank You,
Jodie

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I am currently receiving a spousal benefit of $1194 and turn 70 in June 2021. Would it be wise to collect my own benefit of $1854 six months early at age 66.5 to receive $708 per month more from Jan to June 2021. In June at age 70 I will receive $1902. I believe it will take a little over six years to break even. Is this wise to collect early when I am so close to 70? I am in excellent health and don't see any issues with a short retirement.

Hi,

Waiting until the month you reach age 70 to claim your own benefits is probably your best bet, but other . . . Read More

I just got off the phone with our local social security office. I explained to the agent that I have continued working after retirement, and the last few years I saw an increase in my social security payment , for instance 2018 displaced one of the 35 years social security used to arrive at my current payment. The agent told me that was not true, that once I retired whether I continued to work or not, my benefit was not recalculated, that I was locked in, that what I was seeing was a cost of living increase. The reason I called him was I had not seen an increase this year even . . . Read More

My wife died at the age of 37 in 2009 while our children were 2 and 6 years old at the time. They have received child benefits from SS, but I have never received spousal benefits as I was told by SS there was a maximum family benefit. When my son turned 18, his benefit stopped while my younger child still receives hers. I was again told I would not receive spousal benefits due to the family maximum benefit being reached even though SS publications state I should receive benefits as the parent of a child under 16. Will I ever receive spousal benefits? I have not remarried. Thank . . . Read More