If I Start Drawing Prior To FRA, Is My Wife's Spousal Benefit Based On My PIA Or My Reduced Rate?
My question involves the spousal benefit and I've searched the internet to no avail for a straight answer to this. If I am the higher earning spouse and I decide to take my social security benefit before my FRA, is my wife's spousal benefit based on what my PIA would have been at FRA rather than my reduced benefit amount (because I started before FRA)? You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find a straightforward, simple answer to this!
Hi,
Unreduced spousal benefits are based on 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount (PIA), but the reason . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefit
Posted: Sep 22 2020 - 9:35am
How Can My Granddaughter Get A Hard Copy Of Her Social Security Card?
My granddaughter recently moved to NC from N.H. she is attempting to get a hard copy of her SS card from N.H. but it is one of a few states that doesn’t provide this service online. She is telling me all SS offices in N.H. remain closed because of Covid. What advice can you give her? She would appreciate your expertise. Thanks Larry !!
Hi,
If your granddaughter is unable to apply for a replacement Social Security card online, she'll need to complete a paper application and mail it to a Social Security office along with adequate proof of her . . . Read More
Category: Social Security Numbers
Posted: Sep 22 2020 - 8:25am
Can I Collect Spousal Benefits Now And Wait Until Age 70 To File For My Own Benefits?
Hi Larry,
My husband turned 69 in July 2020, and decided to retire and apply for Social Security. He expects his benefits to begin in October. I turned 66 in March 2020 (Full Retirement Age) and I am still working full time. My plan -- health permitting -- is to continue working full-time until I am 70 and then collect my maximum SS benefit. I would like to know if I can apply for and receive a spousal benefit right now, and collect that until I retire, and then apply for and receive my maximum SS benefit. I thought Congress did away with all this for people born after . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Sep 21 2020 - 9:46am
Should I Be Concerned?
Hi Larry. Bought and read your "Get What's Yours" in 2015 to plan for our S.S. . Wife, lower wage earner, started her benefit early @62 in 2019. I was age 66 on 5Dec2019. I submitted a restricted application for spousal benefits only on 13Dec2020.-Letter from S.S. confirms spousal benefit only and want to delay mine until later. Started getting that payment in Jan2020.
Now when I login online to my account under "Payment Details" it shows my monthly payments as "Social Security (Retirement)" and "Your Social Security Statement" for "Estimated Benefit" not applicable. So, . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 21 2020 - 9:31am
Will My Spousal Benefits From The U.S. Be Reduced Due To My Canadian Pension?
My husband is receiving deferred Social Security retirement benefits, which he started receiving at age 67. He is also receiving retirement benefits from the Canada Pension Plan, for work while we lived in Canada. Since benefits are reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision. I will be applying for Spousal Social Security benefits based on my husband's work record next year at my full retirement age of 66. I will also be receiving a small pension from CPP.
I know that I will be receiving half of my husband's benefits and that my spousal benefits will also be . . . Read More
Category: Foreign Pensions
Posted: Sep 21 2020 - 8:34am
Should My Wife Start Taking Her Benefits At Age 62?
Im 71 and my wife is about to turn 62. I startef taking my ss at 66. Even though Im still working. Should my wife start taking hets at 62?
Hi,
The best time for your wife to claim Social Security benefits depends on a number of different factors, such as your comparative benefit rates, maximum ages of life, current and future earnings, and your financial situation. Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) is designed to use all relevant factors to fully analyze a person's . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Sep 19 2020 - 9:28am
Will Selling My Home Affect My SSDI Benefits?
I am selling my home and the buyer want title co to direct deposit money into my checking ,will that affect my SSDI benefits and what will I need to show proof that money came from sale of home?
Hi,
Unless you're a realtor, buying and/or selling a home wouldn't have any effect on your Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. Only earned income can affect SSDI benefits, and earned income is limited to either wages or self-employment earnings. Income from the sale of a home Isn't classified as either wages or self-employment, except for people who . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Sep 19 2020 - 8:27am
How Does The Social Security Office Verify Marriage?
I am marrying a woman who lost her husband in 2008... She is currently 55. She did not think about his social security benefits until somebody asked her about it after our private wedding last week. She learned she could be eligible at 60 or 62 if she remains unmarried...but we just got married I asked the officiant to withhold the formal legal filing of the marriage signed certificate until we sort this out. Are we better off to treat our marriage as a ceremonial affair and stop completion of the certificate with our county clerk? How does social security office verify . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Sep 19 2020 - 8:08am
Can I Drop Part B Of Medicare And Re-Enroll Later Without Any Penalties?
I am still officially on social security disability, but no longer receiving any monthly payments as I have been working for over a year and making about 70,000 per year (and jointly with my wife over 350,000 per year). However, I am still on Medicare (as I never went through CDR review). I have a good medical coverage from my employer and would like to use it instead of paying Medicare premiums (my Medicare payments is quite high because of substantial family income). Can I remove myself from Medicare part B without incurring any penalties down the road and have an option of . . . Read More
Category: Medicare
Posted: Sep 18 2020 - 10:16am
What Do I Need To Do Next?
I am 26 years old and have developed stage 4 cancer. I applied for SSDI and early retirement at the same time. My disability was approved in just 8 days, but my claim for early retirement just went away. I am getting the run around from every number I call. I did the application on the Social Security web site. "The web site" brought up the fact that I was over retirement age and asked if would I like to collect my early retirement amount until the disability was started which I answered yes. I don't understand what I need to do next .....
Hi,
I'm . . . Read More
Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: Sep 18 2020 - 8:07am
