If My Sister Files For Her Own Benefits Now Will It Reduce Her Future WIdow's Benefits?
Hi Larry, My sister's husband died in November 2015 at 65 years. He hadn't filed for Soc. Sec. Five years later my sister is 62 years old.
1) If she files for her own Soc. Sec. now, at an age reduced amount, would that early filing affect her available amount from her husband's surviving spouse Soc. Sec. at her Full Retirement Age of 67yr. 2m?
2) Say she files for her own Soc. Sec. now, at an age reduced amount, and she keeps earning enough income to cause a +/- 50% Soc. Sec. reduction. Does that reduced Soc. Sec. amount that she doesn't receive increase her . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Sep 3 2020 - 10:57am
Is It True That I Can't Draw Widow's Benefits If I Earn More Than $18,000 This Year?
My husband died 3 years ago and before I turned 60 I called social security about receiving widows benefits. I was told that if I made more than 18 000 a year I couldn't. Is this true?? I also have a friend in the same situation.
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
It doesn't sound like Social Security gave you the full story. If you file for widow's benefits this year and you're under your full retirement age (FRA) all year, Social Security would need to withhold $1 of your current year benefits for each $2 that your 2020 earnings exceed $18,240. . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Sep 3 2020 - 10:48am
If I Keep Working After I Start Collecting Benefits Will My Benefit Rate Increase?
I started collecting my ss at 66 and continue to work full time. If while doing this my salary falls into one of my top 35 yrs. Of earnings will my amount of ss be able to increase on my next birthdays until i am 70 as long as i work and earn
Hi,
If you continue working and paying into Social Security, your Social Security retirement benefit rate can be recomputed annually regardless of your age. It doesn't matter whether of not you are currently drawing benefits. Social Security uses your calendar year earnings, and any recomputed benefit rates . . . Read More
Category: Recomputations
Posted: Sep 3 2020 - 10:24am
What Benefits Am I Entitled To?
Hi, I would like to know what benefits am I entitled to. I pay for short term disability. I have two bad knees. I am planing to have a knee replacement soon. Don’t have any personal time at job.
Hi,
You don't mention your age or marital information, so I don't know what benefits you may be eligible for. If you're disabled and you're not working, or you're earning an average of less than $1260 per month if you are working, you can potentially qualify for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits at any age prior to your full retirement age (FRA). . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 3 2020 - 10:16am
Do You Know When SSA Might Catch Up With Recomputing Benefits?
I began receiving SS at my full retirement age while continuing to work. Each March I have received an additional bump when they update my earnings from the previous year. Our tax returns have always been filed the first of February, however, I have not yet received that bump from working all of 2019, my highest earning year ever! I suppose this has been due to COVID-19 furloughs. Do you know when the SSA might catch up? Thanks
Hi,
Social Security usually runs their automated earnings recomputations around this time of year. I don't know if that . . . Read More
Category: Recomputations
Posted: Sep 3 2020 - 10:08am
Can Social Security Take All Of My Brother's Check For An Overpayment?
I am asking for my brother can social security take all of his check for a over payment that occurred in 1998 that he didn't no about he has wavered it but he does not have no pending check for the 3rd of September
Hi,
Social Security can't collect an overpayment from a person if they've formally waived that person's liability for the overpayment. If your brother doesn't receive his Social Security benefit payment and he thinks that the payment was withheld to recover an overpayment that's been waived, he'll need to work with Social Security to . . . Read More
Category: Social Security Overpayments
Posted: Sep 2 2020 - 10:05am
Can I Retire Early And Claim Benefits For My Minor Child?
I am a 65 year old non-custodial divorced parent, with a 15 year old minor child.
Can I retire early and claim benefits for my minor child, even if his Mother is claiming him
as a dependent on her tax returns? Or the term "dependent" not he same in the two cases?
This affects taxes, the Healthcare exchange, future scholarship applications and many other issues.
I am hoping I can find good employment and then suspend benefits. Thanks so much.
Hi,
The definition of a dependent is different for taxes than it is for Social Security . . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Sep 2 2020 - 9:52am
Can I Get Widow's Benefits Based On A Common Law Marriage?
Hi Larry I been with spouse for 44 year he.pass away but we not married but.common law do I.get widow benfit
Hi,
You must normally have been married for at least 9 months to qualify for widow's benefits, or at least 10 years to qualify for surviving divorced spousal benefits. A common law marriage can count as a valid marriage if it takes place in a state that recognizes common law marriages, and if it meets that state's requirements. Each state that recognizes or recognized common law marriage has it's own regulations for what factors are required . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Sep 2 2020 - 9:40am
Is It True That Social Security Will End If Payroll Taxes Are Suspended?
People are reacting on fb after Trump said he wanted to delay payment of payroll taxes from September through December 2020. If elected, he said he would not require they pay those taxes and social security would be funded by The General Fund. Democrat friends are scared that as will be refunded and done away with. Please give me some info to fight this scare tactic with on their posts. Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Social Security benefits are paid from the Social Security trust fund, and the Social Security Trust Fund consists of the surplus of Social Security . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 2 2020 - 9:24am
Will My Benefits Go Down When I Reach Full Retirement Age?
If I received my own SS Disability benefits and was then switched to SSD Widow Benefits because it was the higher wage. Will it go down when I reach my full retirement age. Even though I am disabled and collected on my record for four months or do I continue to collect S S D W B off his record?
Hi,
When you're receiving Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits based on your own work record and you subsequently become eligible for disabled widow's benefits (DWB), you don't actually switch to drawing just DWB. Instead, you continue drawing your SSDI . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 2 2020 - 9:08am
