Should My Benefit Be 50% Of My Husband's Rate?
I was born October 1939. I took my SS retirement at age 62. My husband and I married in 2018. He was also born in 1939 and took his SS retirement at age 62. My husband's PIA is greater than mine. I applied for spousal benefits after our marriage and was awarded spousal benefits beginning November 2019. Should my benefit be 50% of his retirement benefit rate?
Thank you.
Hi,
No. Any reduction for age applied to a person's Social Security benefits is calculated independently based on their age when they start drawing the benefit.
For . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: May 12 2020 - 2:25pm
Can I Draw My Own Totalized Social Security Benefits And Claim Spousal Benefits?
I am 62 and eligible for the regular German retirement pension when I turn 66. It will be limited as I didn't pay in since spring 2003, when I moved to the US. I am a US citizen now. My American husband retired from the military and will from his civilian job in a few years. Can I draw my own totalized social security (absolutely minor US credits) and claim spousal US social security? Will the spousal benefits be reduced? Is there a threshold til which I am allowed to claim both?
Hi,
You could only receive a totalization benefit from the U.S. if you . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: May 12 2020 - 1:57pm
How Do I Calculate The Tax Advantages Of Claiming SS Early, And How Do I Maximize Medicare?
my question is fairly basic, i am single so there is no spousal concerns. i have two rental homes so i assume that is passive income, they are managed by a property management company. i have roughly 600K in savings, 100 in non tax deferred and about 500 in 401K assets. i am currently 63. my question is two fold, how do i calculate the tax advantages of claiming SS early, or delaying taking benefits, and how do i maximize medicare as well as SS when i claim? i really don't see many people addressing this. tax efficiency is my primary concern. i expect once i claim my income . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: May 12 2020 - 11:10am
Can I Claim My Deceased Ex-Husband's SS And Defer My Own Benefits Until Age 70?
Larry, here is my situation. I am divorced and 62 years of age. My former husband of 13 years passed Feb, 2020. My question as a divorced/widow can I claim his SS benefit now and defer my own claim until 70 years of age? My benefit would be higher than his and I am only asking for his benefit from 62-70 years of age. Does income play into the equation? Thanks, Kathleen
Hi Kathleen,
Yes, you can, but only if you're currently unmarried or if your current marriage occurred when you were age 60 or older. But, if you're working then your benefits could be . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: May 12 2020 - 10:57am
Is It True That You Can Work All You Want If You're Getting Full Retirement Benefits?
I'd it true that when you are getting your full retirement benefits can you also work .
I've been told you can work all you want .
Please clear this up for me.
Thank you for your time.
Laura
Hi Laura,
Whether or not you can earn an unlimited amount and still be paid all of your Social Security benefits depends on your age. If you are full retirement age (FRA) or older, then you can be paid all of your Social Security benefits regardless of how much you work and earn. If you're below FRA, some or all of your Social Security . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Test
Posted: May 12 2020 - 10:51am
What Claim Do I Have On My Wife's Social Security?
I am retired fed (CSRS) 75 yrs old, I claimed ss at 62 with the offset for feds so I get reduced payment, enough to cover medicare based on part time work since retiring, my wife is 65 not retired and not a fed, what claim if any do I have on her ss , as her spouse.
Hi,
In the first place, your wife would have to be drawing her benefits in order for you to potentially qualify for spousal benefits. When your wife does claim her benefits, your unreduced spousal rate (i.e. the amount payable if you are full retirement age (FRA) or older) would be . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: May 12 2020 - 10:36am
Can I Get $1,200 A Month From My Ex-Husband's Social Security Benefits?
Hi Larry, I went through a terrible divorce and my ex-husband took me back to court in 2019 and tryed to get my spousal support stopped, but it didn't go his way and instead he only wanted to half of what I'm suppose to get. I filed a court order to get monthly payments out of his Social Security, only because I don't know if he is working or not and he won't say. If he is working he's getting cash. The court order was certified and signed by the Judge and mailed to Social Security before all this virus hit us. Can I collect from his Social Security? Every thing should have . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: May 12 2020 - 9:43am
Am I Eligible To Claim Divorced Spousal Benefits From My Former Husband?
I started taking my Soc Sec at age 64. Now at age 70, I wonder if I am eligible to claim divorced survivor benefits from my former husband who recently passed away. His earning were greater than mine, and we were married for 26yrs. Thanks!
Hi,
Possibly, but you could only qualify for surviving divorced spousal benefits if you're unmarried or if your current marriage occurred after you reached age 60. Your potential benefit rate as a surviving divorced spouse would depend on a number of factors, such as whether or not your ex-spouse collected reduced . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: May 11 2020 - 3:40pm
Can I Collect Under My Wife's Work Record?
I just retired at 62 having worked for the Postal Service under the Civil Service Retirement System. I have 39 Quarters under Social Security and I am working part time to secure my final and needed Quarter. I realize my SSA benefit will be reduced by the Windfall provision and also government offset. I can collect 500 a month under my work record now which will be reduced to about 250 I will be held harmless later when I take Medicare part B. My question can I collect under my wife's work record or is that where the government offset come is and since my pension is higher than . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: May 11 2020 - 3:10pm
Should I Consider Changing My Future Plans?
I will be 65 in August of this year. My second husband passed away after 8 years of marriage. I have been receiving widows benefits since I was 60. I'm still working so it has been only 3 or 4 payments a year. I was told it wouldn't make any difference in my SS benefits if I took the widow's benefits and could stay on them as long as I wanted to. I plan to retire at age 65 and continue with the survivor's benefits and then switch to my own social security at my full retirement age of 66 yrs and 2 mos. I am divorced from my first husband of 17 years. He is remarried. I was told . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: May 11 2020 - 2:33pm
