Ask Larry: Questions and Answers | BAM - Maximize My Social Security

Displaying 3401 - 3410 of 10063 questions.

Can I Collect Benefits On My First Husband's Record?

I started collecting Social Security at 62, I am married now and have been for almost 15 years. I was married previously for almost 5 years and he passed, he never collected any of his Social Security benefits he died at 56, I've been collecting Social Security for 11years, when my second husband started collecting his at 65, I am 4 years older than him. I get like $5.00 more a month with second hubby's Social Security. My other husband who passed can I collect on his? I was married to second husband before 60, we were married when he passed! First husband!
Thank you . . . Read More

Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Aug 4 2020 - 9:56am

Should I Appeal The Calculation Of My Benefit Rate?

Larry,
I worked from 1971 until 1998 in the private sector and healthcare, with my qualifying quarters satisfied. At 41 years of age, I became a police officer for a southern US city that did not withdraw FICA. I did work at several second jobs through 2012 that DID deduct FICA. In 2017 , I was injured in the line of duty and was retired with a pension.
In 2018, I started SS benefits, but penalized under the WEP.
I satisfied my contributions, my pension is a full disability pension. Should I appeal the calculation of benefits, as it reduces my benefit by $600 . . . Read More

Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Aug 4 2020 - 9:40am

Would I Be Better Off Getting Spousal Benefits From My Ex-Spouse?

I am retired I get $976 per month I was married to my ex 15 years he makes very good money and is about to retire would I be better off to keep what I'm getting or go with getting spousal benefits from him I'm not married he is?

Hi,

I assume you mean that your Social Security retirement benefit is $976. You can apply for divorced spousal benefits, but you'll only qualify if 50% of your ex-husband's primary insurance amount (PIA) is higher than your own PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start . . . Read More

Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Aug 4 2020 - 9:22am

Can My Mom Receive Benefits As A Divorced Widow?

My parents were married for more than 20 years. My dad remarried for about 10 years and was married when he past in 2011. His widower is receiving widower ss. My mom receives a pension from Municipal Employees Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago, which came from working in Chicago Public Schools, which didn't take out for ss. Can she received a divorced widower ss? She does and has not received any ss. And how do I, her daughter go about helping her to receive it?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

The fact that your father's widow is drawing . . . Read More

Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Aug 4 2020 - 9:05am

At What Age Do I Have To Switch To My Own SS?

I am 65 as of march, i have been collecting survivor benefits since i was 62. At what age do i have to switch to my own ss. Yes it will be higher. Can I wait till fill retirement age?

Hi,

You aren't required to switch to your own benefits at any age, but you have the option to apply for your own Social Security retirement benefits at any age from 62 on. If you're currently drawing survivor benefits and if your own benefit rate would be higher than your survivor rate, you may want to wait until age 70 to make the switch. Your own benefit rate would . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Aug 4 2020 - 8:54am

Can I Endorse My SS Pension Benefits When I Turn 62?

Can i endorse my SS pension benefits when i turn 62? Or how can a person living abroad file to receive the money paid to the government?

Hi,

I'm not sure what you mean. You can't assign your benefits to another person, but if you collect Social Security benefits you can transfer the proceeds to anyone as you see fit.

People living outside the U.S. can collect Social Security benefits subject to some restrictions. U.S. citizens can be paid Social Security benefits regardless of what country they live in, with the exception of Cuba and North . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Aug 4 2020 - 8:42am

Is There No Way For My Wife To Get More Than $100 A Month?

My wife is 66 and a half she started drawing social security when she was 65 but only gets 100.00 a month says she didnt work enough she was born jan 26th 1954.
I just turned 62 in april I had wanted to apply for soc security then freeze it so she could draw off me which currently is 2000.00 for myself but congress changed the law i had planned on this 8 years ago so it's really frustrating that i had this planned on it then they took it just as we were going to be eligible. So there is no way for her to get more than 100.00 a month?

Hi,

It . . . Read More

Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Aug 4 2020 - 7:49am

What Are My Chances Of Collecting Social Security Disability At Age 62?

I'm 60 year's old, lost my job due to the COVID-19 PANDEMIC. 10 year's ago I had 2 stent's inserted in my right coronary artery (ANGIOPLASTY). What are my chances to collect SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY at age 62?

Hi,

I have no way of knowing whether or not Social Security would consider you disabled. In general, you must be determined to be unable to do any type of gainful work in order to meet the disability guidelines, and your disabling impairment must be expected to last for at least a year or result in death before then ( . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Aug 4 2020 - 7:41am

Is There Some Way To Find Out Who Used My SSN?

Just trying to find out about who's using my social security number ? I don't make enough to file taxes , I live with my son and he has been able to use me on his taxes, this year he tried to and was declined saying someo one else used me, there is no one that could , so is there some way to find out whom did ? I'm not sure but isn't that fraud. That's money my son could use.
Thank You Rita

Hi Rita,

My only area of expertise is Social Security benefits, so I can't help you with tax issues. If someone is working under your Social Security number . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Aug 4 2020 - 7:34am

Can I Make Voluntary Payments To Get The Credits I Need To Receive SS?

I only have 30 credits in my social security. earnings since I was laid off many years ago. Never work agian in USA. I want to know if you can make violuntaty payment for my sss. So when I reach age of 62 I will get sss retirement.

Hi,

No, you can't make voluntary contributions to Social Security in order to earn credits. The only way to earn Social Security credits (i.e. quarters of coverage) is by working in Social Security covered employment or self-employment (https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/QC.html . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Aug 4 2020 - 7:29am

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