Do You Have Any Idea Why Social Security Would Have Applied GPO In My Wife's Case?
Larry,
My wife has a modest UK pension, and had her own full social security benefit reduced by roughly one-third of the pension amount, per the windfall elimination rules. I recently pulled the trigger on getting my own full benefits, after waiting and instead getting spousal benefits for a few years (I bought both your book and the subscription to your website and found both very helpful in our planning!!)
Social security automatically changed her benefit to the modestly higher spousal benefit shortly thereafter, but then they subtracted two-thirds of her . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Sep 14 2020 - 5:41pm
Why Can't I Collect My Own Benefits If I'm Drawing Spousal Benefits?
Larry, I was told by the ss admin, that I could not receive my spousal retirement and my own retirement simultaneously....or ever. This seems to me to be like theft. I was told that although, I am eligible for both, I would have to choose the larger amount. My thing is if I am eligible for both, how is social security legally withholding my retirement benefits that I paid in on. I receive my spousal retirement, but not my own....and that just isnt fair anyway I look at it.
Hi,
It sounds like what you were told by Social Security is basically correct . . . Read More
Category: Eligibility For Benefits
Posted: Sep 14 2020 - 7:49am
Can Your Company Help My Mother Get Benefits?
Hope you are doing well.
MY Mom Became a US Citizen in December 2019. She is 69 years old. I was writing to find out what social security benefits and Georgia state benefits such as Medicaid she qualifies for and how can your firm help her get those benefits and what will be the cost involved.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Hi,
Our software could help you determine what if any Social Security benefits that your mother may qualify for, but we can't help you with Medicaid or public assistance benefits from a state. If your mother is . . . Read More
Category: Eligibility For Benefits
Posted: Sep 13 2020 - 4:49pm
Will The Fact That My Ex-Husband Is Being Deported Have Any Effect On My Divorced Spousal Benefits?
Hello, Larry: Hello, Jerry:
I am divorced and I am collecting ex spousal retirement benefits.
My ex husband is going to be deported.
Will that affect the benefits that I am receiving ?
Thank you: Patricia.
Hi Patricia,
The only way that your divorced spousal benefits could be affected by your ex-husband being deported is if you are not a U.S. citizen and if you are outside of the U.S. (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0302635001#d).
Best, . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 13 2020 - 9:46am
Are There Options For Me To Acquire Social Security Credits If I'm Disabled?
Hi Larry,
I am a 63-year-old female on long term disability from my US company, where I stopped working in 2007 due to a medical chronic condition. I have only 24 work credits which, obviously, do not qualify me to receive US social security benefits when my long-term disability expires at 65, in less than 2 years.
I am a dual US-Canadian citizen who also worked in Canada for 3 years. If I apply for benefits in the US, I believe that, even with my 3 years of work in Canada, I would still be a little short of the 40 credits required to receive benefits.
I have . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 13 2020 - 8:57am
If I Remarry Will It Affect My SS?
I have been a widow for 4 years. If I remarry will it affect my ss. I am 76.
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss. Assuming that what you're receiving is a Social Security widow's benefit and/or benefits based on your own earnings history, then getting remarried won't have any adverse effect on your benefits. A remarriage that occurs after a person reaches age 60 has no effect on that person's eligibility for Social Security widow's benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/ . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Sep 12 2020 - 2:24pm
Will Social Security Properly Include My 2020 Earnings?
I turn 70 in January and am still working. I am sure that the year that closes on Dec. 31, 2020 will be among my higher earnings years. Will Social Security have my income info from 2020 available to them in time to use that most recent year in the calculation of my benefit. (I do realize, I think, that I will not be eligible for my first Soc. Sec. check until March, 2021.) Will the system properly include my earnings from the most recent year, having just closed?
Thank you.
Hi,
First off, if you turn age 70 in January you'll want to start your . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 12 2020 - 1:51pm
Do I Need To File An Application To Switch To Drawing My Own Benefits, And If So When Should I Apply?
When I turned full retirement age 66 (I was born in 1952), my wife filed for her benefit at age 64 1/2 and I filed a restricted application and took 1/2 of her full retirement age benefit.I will turn 70 in a little over 2 years but I'm wondering when I should apply for my benefit in order to take it as close to age 70 as possible. Do I need to apply for it 3 months prior to my 70th Birthday or can I just wait and it will automatically switch me over to my benefit? I don't want to start it before I turn 70 but I also don't want to lose a month of benefits for filing too late . . . Read More
Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: Sep 12 2020 - 10:36am
Does The Software Handle The Scenario My Wife And I Have In Mind?
My wife is two years older and hasn’t worked in past 25 years. Does the software handle the scenario of her taking benefits at 62 and then me also at 62 but two years later? Thanks, Tim
Hi Tim,
Yes, our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) can handle the scenario you describe. The software could also fully analyze all of the other filing options available to you and your wife so that you can decide which filing strategy you believe is best for your individual needs.
. . . Read More
Category: Maximize My Social Security Software
Posted: Sep 12 2020 - 10:28am
Would We Be Better Off If My Husband Files For Early Retirement At Age 62?
I receive Ssdi and my husband was just diagnosed with APL leukemia. He doesn’t have enough quarters in recently to qualify for SSDI. Being married does that disqualify him for SSI where would we be better off having him file for early retirement he will be 62 in May? I have heard with what I get he will not get SSI benefits unless we are divorced could you please let me know about that.
Hi,
I'm sorry to hear about your husband's illness. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a needs based benefit, and a spouse's income and resources are considered . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Sep 12 2020 - 10:03am
