If My Wife Takes Her Reduced SS Benefits Now Will We Have A Reduction On My Salary?
Hi Larry: I am 64 working making low six figures salary. My wife is 62 retired with a fairly minimum to low salary contribution to SSA for more than the required time to get benefits. I am "planning" to delay my SS benefits well beyond FRA. If my wife takes her reduced SS benefits now, will we have reduction on my salary? She has no salary.
Hi,
Your salary would have no effect on your wife's Social Security retirement benefits, nor would your wife's benefits have any effect on your salary. It sounds like you and your wife should strongly consider . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Jul 5 2020 - 9:51am
Are My Children Automatically Eligible For Benefits Off My Record If I Start Drawing?
I am 63 with 3 children (under 16) that are in the custody of my ex-spouse. Are my children automatically eligible for benefits off my record if I start collecting? Or do I need to prove a certain level of financial support (or other requirement) since they don't live with me full-time?
Hi,
Biological children are deemed to be dependent on their natural parents, meaning that financial support isn't required in order for a child to potentially qualify for child's benefits on their natural parent's record. Adopted children are also deemed to be . . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Jul 4 2020 - 10:10am
Will My Wife's Social Security Benefits Be Reduced If She Receives A Survivor Pension That's Based On My Government Work?
Hi Larry, I will be receiving a local government pension for which I did not pay into Social Security. My wife does not have a pension, and will rely on what she has paid into Social Security. If I die and she assumes my pension, will that affect her Social Security income, or is she entitled to Social Security regardless of the pension because she paid into it separately?
Thank you, Doug
Hi Doug,
No, your wife's Social Security benefits won't be reduced if she receives a survivor pension based on your government work. The only non-Social . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Jul 4 2020 - 10:02am
Is The WEP Guarantee Based On U.S. Dollars?
The WEP guarantee says the reduction to my Social Security benefit cannot be more than 50% of my non-covered pension. My non-covered pension is the Canadian Pension Plan. Is that guarantee applied to the CPP converted to US dollars? For example, I worked less than 20 years in the US, but more than 20 years in Canada. Let's say my CPP is $800 (Canadian) which with the exchange rate is $584 (US). So is the WEP guarantee based on 50% of the $800 (Canadian) or $584 (US)? I cannot find anywhere in the SS documents that specifies whether I should convert my CPP to US dollars or not. . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Jul 4 2020 - 8:27am
Why Am I Getting Conflicting Messages From Social Security's Website?
I filled at social security application on June 18,2020. Wrote down user and password When I attempted to sign in on July 3, 2020 message file could not ne found. Went to change password. Did that. Tried to sign still message said account not found. My account is still being processed is that why I am getting a message account cant be found?
The day I filled application received email I could access it in 5 days but have not been able to get logged in.
I need direct simole step by step directions. Once I am able to access my account I want to delay/change start date . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Jul 3 2020 - 11:55am
Can My Wife Collect Her Benefits And Then Switch To Survivor Benefits If I Die First?
Filing stategies
I'm trying to get social security right, my information is l was born on April 30, 1951 Pia was 2453 i worked until 68 so i plan to wait until 2021 at 70 to file for social security at that time it will be around 3479. I was married that lasted more than 10 years she is already collecting social security. My wife will be 62 August 26 2020 her pia is 1732 and will grow to 2402 at 66 &8mo. I have read your book and if i understand it right she can collect on her social security and then if i pass away first she can switch to my surviver benefit.
I . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jul 3 2020 - 8:12am
Could I Go Ahead And Apply For My SS Now And Then When I Turn 66 Apply For My Deceased Husband's Benefits?
I am 63 and my husband passed away two years ago at 62, he never collected SS. I was wondering if I could go ahead and apply for my SS now and then when I turn 66 apply for my deceased husbands? I really need his higher benefit in retirement, so I don't want to make a mistake. Thank you
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
Yes, you could potentially file now for your own Social Security benefits and then file for widow's benefits later, or you could file for widow's benefits now and file for your own benefits later. However, if you're working and if . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jul 2 2020 - 4:57pm
Will My SS Benefits Be Reduced By WEP If I Get Part Of My Husband's Pension
My husband and I are getting divorced. He will receive a teacher's pension (non contributing to SS) when he retires, and as part of our settlement, I will also receive part of the pension. I have my own SS benefits, as I have worked in traditional jobs and paid into SS. He also worked for about 10 years in the corporate world and paid into SS. I understand that his SS benefits will be reduced because of WEP. My question is - will MY SS benefits that I earned on my own be subject to WEP also, because I will be receiving part of his pension when he retires?
Hi . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Jul 2 2020 - 4:46pm
Can I Continue Working At Below SGA Level Without Jeopardizing My SSDI?
The rules for ssdi extended eligibility are confusing. I am unable to physically work more than $800-$1000 per month, some months even less, as my health is up and down. I'm just not well enough to earn more or go above sga. I am confused though whether or not I lose my ssdi after the EPE if I never am well enough to earn sga but do sometimes go over twp. Can a person who is disabled and unable to physically manage working/earning sga continue to work within their limitations below sga amount after EPE without jeopardizing their ssdi? Physically it is difficult for me but . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Jul 2 2020 - 9:51am
Will My Wife Qualify For Free Part A Medicare If She Only Gets Spousal Benefits?
Hi, Larry, thanks for taking the time. I'm trying to plan for my wife's future Medical costs. The Medicare website (https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/part-a-costs) says that part A is free if "You already get retirement benefits from Social Security". At FRA, she will receive spousal benefits (she will not qualify for her own retirement benefits as she does not have enough credits). My question is - do spousal benefits qualify as 'retirement benefits'?
Hi,
Yes, as long . . . Read More
Category: Medicare
Posted: Jul 2 2020 - 9:43am
