Can I File My Restricted Application For Spousal Benefits In Advance?
Larry, after many hours study and deciding what to do with social security, I did purchase Maximizing Social Security and it did confirm what I want to do. I want to clarify 2 minor points. I am 68 and earned far more than my wife and have not taken social security - plan to when I retire in 2 years. My wife with far less earnings turns 66 in December (31st) and will be taking her own social security. I will take her spousal benefit with a restricted application. This is a dumb question, but here it is. a) She can I believe file in September to begin payments in January - is . . . Read More
Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: Aug 30 2020 - 9:21am
Is There A Minimum Age At Which A Person Can Qualify For SSDI Benefits Based On Their Own Earnings?
My daughter is 19, 100% blind, Currently receives Supplemental Security Income. for Past two years she has managed a self employment income (All reported properly and filed with her taxes and shows in her SSA Web portal) around +/- $7,000 a year from various things, (Baby sitting, house care, secretarial type work, etc...). Most likely will not increase, at least for next few years while she is in college.
As I understand, I do get $684 in SSDI, so in theory, being my only child over 18, she'd be eligible for DAC of $342 and rest supplemented via SSI. Recently I have . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Aug 30 2020 - 8:05am
Could My Girlfriend File For Her Benefit Now And Then Switch To Half Of My Benefit When We Marry?
I am 68 and my girlfriend is 66. I don't intend to file for social security benefits until I am 70. We intend to marry at that time. Her benefit now would be around $1,586 and my benefit at 70 will be close to $3,400. The question is, can she file for her benefit now and then when we marry, would she be able to switch and get 50% of my benefit?
Hi,
Your girlfriend could file for her own benefits now and then file for spousal benefits later, but she couldn't get 50% of your full age 70 rate as a spouse. The most she could be eligible for is 50% of . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Aug 30 2020 - 7:47am
Can I Collect Early From My Spouse's Record If I'm Disabled?
I had almost 10 years in the state police before I was injured on duty. Even though my doctor's all said I permanently disabled (TBI) the state took away my comp, etc. Because we didn't pay into SS, I am literally 1 credit short. I have tried twice and been turned down. My wife and I are seperated and have been married 12 years. She is 62, I am 48. Can I collect early from her? Thanks
Hi,
No. In order to be potentially eligible for spousal benefits, your spouse must be drawing their Social Security retirement or disability benefits, and you must be . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Aug 29 2020 - 10:22am
Will My Disability Benefits Be Affected If I Get Married?
Iam receive SS for diablito, iamsingle. If I want to marrie whit a man who received SSA for retiremos and he has 66 years my SSAdisability is afected?
Hi,
If I understand your question, you're asking if your disability benefits will be affected if you get married. The answer is to that question is no, assuming that what you're receiving is Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. Or, If you're receiving is Social Security disabled widow's benefits, getting married after your benefits have started wouldn't stop or reduce your benefits. Or, if . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Aug 29 2020 - 10:03am
Is It True That My Sister-In-Law Can't Get Widow's Benefits If She Has Too Much Income?
My brother passed on 5/2/20 of colo-rectal cancer and possibly covid-19. He was receiving SS disability. His widow contacted SS re widow's benefits and was advised she made too much income. Is this true? She is under 60 and employed.
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
First of all, a person can't qualify for widow's benefits prior to age 60 unless they're disabled or if they have a child in their care who qualifies for benefits on the deceased worker's record and who is either under age 16 or disabled.
Also, if a widow claims benefits prior to . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Aug 28 2020 - 3:30pm
Can My Husband Collect Spousal Benefits?
Dear Larry,
I’m writing to you because I’ve retired as if 2018. I am now 72 and my husband is 73 years old. We will soon be married 10 years “this December”.
My husband retired early at 62 and has been collecting Social Security since. Can he collect the spousal benefits?
Hi,
Since your husband is already drawing his benefits, he could only qualify for spousal benefits if your primary insurance amount (PIA) is more that twice as much as his own PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Aug 28 2020 - 3:22pm
Can I Apply For Widow's Benefits If I'm Already Drawing My Own Benefits?
Hi Larry, I retired in 2011 after working for 30 years. When I retired in 2011, that was an early retirement because I was only 63. So I've been collecting from Social Security since age 63. What I want to know is if I can apply for widow's benefits since my husband worked more or less 28 years. He passed away last December 8 but he was on disability at the time of his death. He was already collecting Social Security at age 63. Thank you.
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
You can certainly apply for widow's benefits, but you'll only qualify for . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Aug 28 2020 - 7:17am
Is There Any Way To Retrieve Funds That Were Deducted From My Mother's Bank Account After Her Death?
My mother passed July 28 2020 Texas. The Social Security took all her bank account funds. We knew she wouldn't receive August payment. Is there any way to retrieve funds as a child of deceased. She has bills we need to pay. Please advise. Thank you in advance
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
I'm not sure what you mean when you say that Social Security took all of your mother's bank account funds. The only funds that would need to be returned to Social Security would be the full amount of her Social Security benefit payment for the month of July . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Aug 27 2020 - 11:15am
What Should I Know Before Asking For A Disability Benefit Recomputation?
Hello Any thoughts you could give me would be wonderful.
Currently I receive $685 SSDI. I was born completely blind in 1973. Up until eligibility off my own record, I received some off my dads (also blind) through DAC, Then I got married. I first applied and received SSDI off my own record when I was around 24 (1996). The amount was around $384. This was based off very minimal earnings at the time over few years, Approximately $6700 being max year.About a year later I received one very small increase due to earnings and any other increases where due to COLA. Then Lost my . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Aug 27 2020 - 9:34am
