Should I Contact Social Security To Let Them Know That I'm Not Working?
Larry: I am 65 and worked for a few years after I started collecting SS benefits at 62.Of course my benefits were adjusted because I made more over the allowed limit. Not much but a $1700.-$2000 over. I now have quit working for good at 65 and feel that my benefit should be adjusted up. I told my husband that I should contact the SS Department but he said not necessary that the SS Admin., has the information thru the payroll taxes not being with-held for me. What is the recommendation? Contact SS Admin., let them know that I am not working? Thank you.
Hi, . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 6 2020 - 4:36pm
Can My Wife Continue To Receive Spousal Benefits For The Rest Of Her Life?
Good Day,
Can my wife who is receiving spousal SS retirement benefits on my record continue spousal benefits for the rest of her life or will she be forced to get benefits on her own record when she turns 70? She did file the application as restricted to spousal benefits only. Thank you.
Hi,
Yes, your wife can continue to draw spousal benefits for as long as both of you are living. Her spousal benefits would automatically convert to widow's benefits if you die before her, though. If your wife was born prior to January 2 1954 and she filed for . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Sep 6 2020 - 9:23am
Can I Collect SSI While Waiting For My SSDI Payments To Begin?
Can I collect SSI while waiting (5 months) for my SSDI payments to begin?
Hi,
Potentially, yes. I'm not sure if by SSI you are referring to Supplemental Security Income or Social Security retirement benefits, though. Social Security uses the abbreviation SSI to refer to Supplemental Security Income, which is a needs based benefit that they administer. In order to qualify for SSI payments, you'd need to meet the income and resource limits to be able to collect those benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/ . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Sep 5 2020 - 1:13pm
If I Pursue My Appeal To The Next Step, Will I Prevail?
Sir,
Because of a complicated Medicare situation, my local office advised me to apply for my SS retirement benefits immediately. I did, in Jan ‘19. The money accumulated in an account opened just to receive these funds—and has never been touched. Several months afterwards, I could see it was not going to help restore my Medicare.
I went to my local office in Apr ‘19, with a form filled out to withdraw my application for retirement benefits. The very senior/competent clerk declined to process my application, saying (after checking his computer) that I had a year . . . Read More
Category: Withdrawing Retirement Benefits
Posted: Sep 5 2020 - 8:32am
Can I Receive Benefits From My Deceased Parents As The Youngest Of Six Children?
Can I receive benefits from my deceased parents as the baby child out of six children that the survivors or family benefits
Hi,
Your order of birth is irrelevant when determining whether or not you can qualify for child benefits. To be eligible for child benefits on the Social Security record of a deceased parent, a child must be unmarried and either be a) under age 18, or b) age 18-19 and attending high school, or c) disabled based on an impairment that began prior to age 22 ( . . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Sep 4 2020 - 3:29pm
Are There Any SS Benefits For Me?
Hi Larry,
I was married to my first husband for19 years. He inherited a large trust fund (20 million) just after we married. he never worked after that so during our entire marriage it is my understanding that he never paid into social security. I was a stay at home mom. I am divorced and turning 65 in Dec. Are there any SS benefits for me?
Thank you
Hi,
You can't collect Social Security benefits unless either you paid into Social Security long enough to be insured for benefits, or if you qualify for auxiliary or survivor benefits on the . . . Read More
Category: Eligibility For Benefits
Posted: Sep 4 2020 - 3:02pm
Where Can I Find This Year's Publication For Calculating Social Security Benefits?
Where can I find this year's publication for calculating Social Security Benefits? Last year, it was published in Social Security Publication 05-10070. It used to list all of the index factors so you could calculate your highest 35 years of wage-indexed earnings. Have they changed the formula for calculating benefits? Or are they just not publishing the Index Factors?
Also, are these the same factors that Social Security uses to calculate your estimated benefits when they generate your Social Security Statement? I have noticed that the maximum earnings for each previous . . . Read More
Category: Calculating Retirement Benefits
Posted: Sep 4 2020 - 9:06am
If I'm Fired Can I Start Getting My Widow's Benefits?
Hi Larry I am 58 and my husband died a few months ago. I want to retire at 62. Should I get my husbands ss. And wait to apply for mine? Also I have an ex husband that I can claim ss on. How should I work this put to my benefit? One last question, my job is kinda iffy due to 19, if I am fired can I start getting my widowers benefits?
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
You can't draw widow's benefits prior to age 60 unless you're disabled or if you have an eligible child in your care. However, there is a one-time death benefit of $255 for which you'd . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Sep 3 2020 - 11:28am
What Would I Do Without My Social Security Disability Benefits?
I receive Social Security Disability Benefits each month when the Social Security is cut off my disability benefits what will I do because I cannot work like I thought that mental condition so what would I do without my social security disability benefits
Hi,
I'm sorry, but Social Security benefits are my only area of expertise so I can't give you a good answer. Social Security would generally only stop paying Social Security disability (SSDI) if you work and earn too much or if your medical impairment improves to the extent that it's no longer . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Sep 3 2020 - 11:24am
Can I Apply For Early Retirement Benefits If I'm Getting Social Security Disability?
I am on social security disability and wanted to know can I apply for early retirement benefits?
Hi,
I assume by 'early retirement benefits' you're referring to Social Security retirement benefits. You could apply for Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62 even if you're drawing Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, but you couldn't be paid both benefits at the same time. You'd have to choose which benefit that you want to draw, and since SSDI benefits are not reduced for age you'd be likely be taking a benefit cut if you . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Sep 3 2020 - 11:09am
