Should I Have Signed Up Sooner?
My ex husband passed away in 2016. He was born in 1944 I was born in 1955 we were married for 19 years. I never remarried. Social security mailed me a benefit matrix of how much I would receive. I wanted to start my benefits in January 2021.the amount on the matrix shows $1847 at full retirement 7 2021. I also called a few months ago and was told the amount would be around $1900 I made a appointment to sign and was told the amount would be $1590' how can this be should I have signed up sooner. I am still working but would like to retire or cut back on hours.
. . . Read More
Category: Divorced Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Oct 20 2020 - 11:05am
What Will Happen To My SSI When I Reach Age 62?
I live on SSI and what happen when I turn 62.
Hi,
Reaching age 62 wouldn't necessarily have any effect on your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. However, if you have enough work credits to qualify for Social Security benefits, Social Security would require you to start drawing those benefits at age 62 as a condition for continuing your SSI eligibility. Social Security benefits offset SSI benefits no more than dollar for dollar, though, so even if you do qualify for Social Security benefits it shouldn't reduce your total combined monthly . . . Read More
Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: Oct 20 2020 - 10:55am
Can My Wife Take Her Social Security Benefits At Age 62 Without Reducing Her Future Survivor Rate?
Dear Mr Kotlikoff:
I am 72 years old and my wife is 58. My social security is near the maximum possible (45,000/year). I want to be sure that when I die my wife will receive my full social security amount. Can she take social security on her record at 62 with out reducing her survivors benefit when I die or should she wait until her FRA?
Gerald
Hi Gerald,
Filing for her own benefits at age 62 would not reduce the amount of your wife's potential survivor benefit rate. As long as she's at least full retirement age (FRA) when she starts . . . Read More
Category: Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Oct 20 2020 - 10:45am
Will My Sister Be Able To Collect Social Security At Age 62 If She's Getting A Railroad Spouse Pension?
Sister is a registered nurse and paid into Social Security for over 30 years. At age 60 she started receiving a railroad retirement from her husband that retired from the railroad. Will she be able to collect social security at age 62 which will be Jan 2020 since she has well over the 40 quarters to make her eligible for social security and medicare and the railroad retirement?
Hi,
Your sister can claim Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but whenever she files for her Social Security benefits the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) . . . Read More
Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: Oct 19 2020 - 6:08pm
Is There Any Way To Not Have My Canadian CPP Benefits Deducted From My U.S. Social Security Benefits?
I worked in Canada for 14 years and receive a CPP pension; and, I've worked in the US and receive max SS pension available since did not apply for US SS until I turned 70 yrs. (NB: I'm a US citizen & Canadian Landed Immigrant.)
In computing my US social security benefits (for state of Minnesota), my CPP pension amount is deducted from my available US SS benefits; which doesn't seem fair, since I paid taxes (when working in both the US & Canada). Is there any way to not have my Canadian CPP benefits deduced from my available US SS benefits (Windfall application)? . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Oct 19 2020 - 5:39pm
How Does SSI Affect WIC And Section 8 Payments?
I am a Care Manager. One of my client' s receive WIC and Section 8. the family wants to know how SSI will effect their WIC and Section 8 payments
Hi,
I'm sorry, but I'm unable to answer your question. My expertise is limited only to Social Security benefits.
Best, Jerry
Category: Public Assistance Payments
Posted: Oct 19 2020 - 5:36pm
Does Signing A Release Make My Severance Pay A Special Wage Payment?
I was laid off Sept 30, 2020. I had to sign a Release to be eligible to collect a severance pay (one year long, every 2 weeks at regular pay amount).
Question: does signing the Release allow the severance pay to be characterized as Special Payment and therefore not counted as income?
Hi,
With or without a release It sounds like your severance pay would be classified as a 'payment on account of retirement', and as such would be considered a special wage payment (SWP) excludable from counting for earnings test purposes. You'll need to notify . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Oct 19 2020 - 5:25pm
When Should I Apply?
Is payment benefit calculated on when you apply or when you receive your first payment? My birthdate is 6/9/1954. I'd like to receive my first payment in January 2021 at the increased rate for waiting 6 months past FRA. When should I apply? Thank you so much!
Hi,
The timing of your application is irrelevant to the computation of your benefit rate. If you want your delayed retirement credits (DRC) to be used in the initial calculation of your benefit rate, you should choose January 2021 as your month of election (MOE) to start your benefits. You . . . Read More
Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: Oct 19 2020 - 5:10pm
Would The Widow I'm Dating Lose Either Of The Pensions She Receives If We Get Married?
Am dating a widow, female at age 67 and she recieves her late husbands pension from where he worked and his social security. Does she lose either of those if we got married. I still work and my socoal security is higher than hers, I am 69.
Hi,
I have no idea what rules apply to the employer pension this lady is receiving, but getting married to you would have no effect on her Social Security widow's benefits. Marriages that occur after a person reaches age 60 have no bearing on their eligibility for Social Security widow(er) benefits ( . . . Read More
Category: Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Oct 19 2020 - 9:37am
Is Social Security Forgetting About The January 2 1954 Rule For Spousal Benefits?
Hi Larry,
Is Social Security just forgetting the January 2, 1954 rule for spousal benefits??!
I’m fairly certain my mother is being misinformed my her local SS office and it’s making me angry. Her birthday is 2/12/1954, she was married 10 years, divorced, not remarried. My father (her ex) is currently collecting benefits. She has earnings history similar to, if not slightly greater than, my father’s. The rep at her local SS office has stated now multiple times (I was on one such call) that she IS ELIGIBLE to collect 50% of my father’s benefit (and retroactively for . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Oct 19 2020 - 9:22am
