Why Can't I Get My Husband's Survivor Benefits?
My husband died over 5 years ago and I would like to know why I cannot get his survivors benefits. I am 68 and am still working and receive my social security benefits, but my husband’s benefits are due to me . Why can’t I receive them? I am his surviving spouse. We were married over 34 years.
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
I assume that you're referring to widow's benefits based on your husband's earnings history. Unfortunately, there isn't enough information in your question for me to be able to give you a definitive answer. What I can tell . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Jul 16 2020 - 10:20am
Is It Still True That WEP Doesn't Apply To Divorced Spousal Social Security Benefits?
I have read on your website that WEP does not apply to Divorced Spouse Social Security Benefits which I am eligible for. Is that still the case now at present day?
If I get Social Security benefits from working in a European country will WEP apply to my US Social Security Divorced Spouse Benefits? Can I file for US Social Security Divorced Spouse Benefits this year (2020) and continue working at my job in Europe for another year (I will retire next year 2021) or will I be penalized? Thanks so much Larry!
Hi,
Yes, that's still true. The . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Jul 16 2020 - 9:47am
Am I Allowed To File On My Spouse's Social Security?
I have teacher pensions from AK and CO that did not pay into social security. I have calculated the WEP impact on my social security payments. I paid into social security for 19 years when teaching in two other states. Am I allowed to file on my spouse's social security since he has paid into it his entire career and his social security benefit is higher?
Hi,
You could file for spousal benefits if you're at least age 62 and provided that you spouse is drawing his benefits, but your spousal benefits would likely be offset by 2/3rds of the total amount . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Jul 15 2020 - 5:08pm
If I Choose To Start My Own Benefits Retroactively, Will My Back Pay Be Reduced If I've Already Been Paid Spousal Benefits?
My husband started getting disability benefits 6 years ago, he's 66. I'm 68, and I started getting spousal benefits last year, I filed a restricted application for spousal benefits only. I get it monthly, and I received one payment of about $9,000 that a SSA rep said was back pay. My delayed retirement credit is 16%, I may take 4% (6 months) retroactively, when I file for my retirement this year. I'm wondering will my retroactive retirement payment be reduced because of the spousal back pay I received? Thank you.
Hi,
Yes. You can't be paid both your . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jul 15 2020 - 8:27am
How Will Business Losses I Declared Affect My Social Security Benefits?
Hi, Larry,
I had to declare business loss. for 8 years ( not consecutive) . How will this affect my social security beneifts when. I. retire?
Hi,
Having no Social Security covered earnings for 8 years will almost certainly have a negative effect on your eventual Social Security retirement benefit rate. Social Security retirement benefits are based on an average of a person's highest 35 years of wage-indexed earnings. If you have fewer than 35 years of Social Security covered earnings, then zero earnings years are averaged in. That has the . . . Read More
Category: Retirement Benefits
Posted: Jul 14 2020 - 9:14am
Is It True That I'd Get A Higher Benefit Rate If My Second Ex-Husband Dies?
I worked. My ex husband of more than 10 years worked and was a higher wage earner than myself and my second ex husband and passed away. My second ex husband worked and is still living. I am currently collecting on a survivor benefit from my first ex husband. If my second ex husband passes away, I was told by a SS agent that I should come in when he passes that I could be eligible for a higher amount. Is this true? (Of the 3 of us the the first husband was the highest earner, the second ex husband second and of course as the female I was the lowest earner)
I thought that . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Jul 14 2020 - 7:59am
How Much Would My Husband Or I Be Paid If One Of Us Dies?
Hi Larry,
I am 65, recently retired ss amount is 1224 a month
My husband is 73, his ss amount is 211.00. He receives spousal amt totalling 593.00 (the 211 is taken away). If either of us dies, how would survival or spousal benefit work for my husband? Would my husband be eligible and how much would he be eligible for? Would I lose any ss if he passes first? Thank you.
Hi,
First, just to clarify, if your husband was drawing his own benefits when he filed for spousal benefits, his own benefits would not stop being paid. Instead, his excess . . . Read More
Category: Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Jul 13 2020 - 12:27pm
When I File For My Benefits Can My Wife Suspend Her Benefits, Draw Spousal Benefits, And Then Restart Her Benefits At Age 70?
Dear Larry,
I am 69 and My wife is 67 years young. My wife started her SS at her FRA 66 yrs. and I am collecting SS on her record and plan to claim on my record on April, 2021 when I will be 70 yrs.
My question is, when I start my SS on my 70th birth month, can my wife suspend her SS on her record and start to collect on my record? And restart her's when she turns 70? Will her SS grow during this time?
I read your column regularly and learnt a lot. Thanks in advance for answering my question.
Thanks & Regards,
Shyam
Hi . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jul 13 2020 - 12:04pm
Would I Be Prudent To File On The Record Of Whichever Of My Husbands Had Larger Earnings?
My husband recently passed away. We were married for more than ten years. He took retirement at age 65 years.
I also had a former marriage for more than ten years, we divorced. He may have taken early retirement before 65 yrs.
I took early retirement at age 62 yrs. I am not sure which husband had the larger wage earnings. I presume it would be prudent to choose the one with the larger wage earnings. If that turns out to be my former husband, would that reduce his benefits in any way? What would be the best to do now, and is there other options that I should keep in . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jul 13 2020 - 11:40am
Should My Husband And I Sign Up For Medicare If We're U.S. Citizens Living In Germany?
Hi Larry,
My husband and I are American citizens living abroad. My husband is receiving his social security payments, - I have not chose yet to do so. We will be both 65 years old this October 2020. Should we sign up for Medicare now? Currently we have German health insurance coverage. If and when we return to the U.S,. - we do not want to be penalized for having not signed up for medicare when we turned 65. Is there a special form to fill out so that we do not have to sign up for medicare right now since we do not need it? Please explain if possible. We will sign up if . . . Read More
Category: Medicare
Posted: Jul 12 2020 - 10:20am
