I have SSI quarters and a teacher retirement plan.
Will WEP act be repealed.
Gratefully, Kathy
Hi Kathy,
The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) was added to the Social Security law by Congress in the 1980s, and various bills have been floated in Congress in virtually every Congressional session since that time. None of those bills has even come close to being passed by Congress, so I would be very surprised if the WEP provision is ever changed in any substantial manner.
Best, Jerry
Why did my ex spousal benefits increase from $225 a month to $1,021 after the death of my ex spouse ?
Hi,
Unreduced divorced spousal benefits are calculated at 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount (PIA). Unreduced surviving divorced spousal benefits are calculated based on either 100% of the worker's PIA, or if the worker drew Social Security retirement benefits prior to their death, the unreduced survivor rate is calculated based on the higher of a) 82.5% of the worker's PIA, or b) the worker's actual benefit rate.
If you're also . . . Read More
Dear Larry,
Quickly, My husband was born in 1957, I was born in 1968. I was awarded Disability Benefits in 2014. I've looked everywhere to find answers but just I've found online seems to apply to our situation.
My husband will be working to or past his FRA. I don't recall the amount his SS record says his benefit would be, but even 50% would still be a lot more than the $825 a month disability I receive.
Would I be able to claim the spousal benefit at 62 or would I have to wait until my FRA for the disability to convert to social security before being able to . . . Read More
My wife is 64 and I am 65, I am waiting until 65 And 2 months to collect my full SS. I have the larger amount coming (est $3,000) per month next April. My wife’s SS if she started collecting now would be about $500 per month
Should she start collecting now?
Or should she wait until she is 66 +
When I start to collect next April, how will this affect her SS if she is collectingThank You
R D
Hi R D,
I assume that you mean that you plan to file at age 66 & 2 months, not 65 & 2 months. Full retirement age (FRA) for . . . Read More
I have remarried but i was wondering if i could receive my ex retirement. Im already 65.
Hi,
No, not if you're still remarried and if your ex is living. You must be unmarried in order to potentially become eligible for divorced spousal benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.03/handbook-0311.html), and the only way that you can be married and be eligible for surviving divorced spousal benefits is if you remarried after age 60.
Best, Jerry
I was born in 1958 and am planning to file now that I am 62 years old.
I married in December 2019. My wife is a non resident and resides in the Philippines. Should anything happen to me, is my wife entitled to survivor benefits?
Please advise.
Thank you.
Hi,
Assuming that your wife is a Philippine citizen living in the Philippines, the answer is likely no. She would need to either have a) resided with you in the U.S. for at least five years while you were married, or b) be lawfully admitted to the U.S. for permanent residence in . . . Read More
I have a disabled adult child. Am I able to collect full benefits at 62 instead of 67 because my disabled child lives with me and is my dependent.
Hi,
You can potentially qualify for unreduced child in care spousal or survivor benefits at any age if you have a child in your care who is under age 16 or disabled, although benefits are sometimes reduced due to the family maximum benefit.
However, if you're referring to receiving unreduced Social Security retirement benefits based on your own earnings history at age 62, then the answer is no. Even . . . Read More
can i get my ex wifes SSB and mine Too
Hi,
Not really. If you apply for both your own Social Security benefits and for divorced spousal or survivor benefits, you could only be paid essentially the higher of the two benefit rates. If your divorced spousal or survivor rate was the higher of the two benefits, though, Social Security would pay your own benefit plus a partial divorced spousal or survivor rate. The 2 benefits would basically just add up to the higher divorced spousal/survivor rate, though.
Best, Jerry
Hi
I am 63 years old retired on a pension, my occupation did not require that I pay into social security due to my pension. Working in other jobs when I was younger I did pay into social security for 26 quarters. My question is in regards to medicare, my wife is 56 years and is actively worked but is fully vested in the social security system. Will I qualify for medicare and social security benefits through my spouse? If so when would I qualify for these benefits?
Thx
Hi,
First of all, you can qualify for Medicare at age 65 even if you . . . Read More
My late husband and I lived together 16 years, but we were only married for 2 years. Is there anyway I can draw his Social Security?
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
Assuming that your marriage ended in death, then the answer to your question is yes. You only need to have been married for at least 9 months in order to qualify for widow's benefits if the marriage ended in death. The full requirements for widow's benefits can be found in the following section of Social Security's handbook: . . . Read More
Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.