How Much Of My Deceased Partner's Social Security Can I Receive?
Dear Larry: you've been helpful before..just one more question..I've been receiving my partner s full social security from the home he's been in for the past 4 years ( he's just passed), I am age 57 and on disability ( SSI R), do I continue getting the whole check are 71 percent but can I still collect my SSI ( 950.00). My partners check was 2000.00?. Some say because I was already getting the full amount I get to keep it, but I just don't know..please help.. thank you kind sir!
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
I can't give you a good answer . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: May 8 2020 - 8:23am
Will Social Security Automatically Certify My Payments To The Railroad Retirement Board?
Will Social Security automatically certify my payments to the Railroad Retirement Board when I apply? I am the spouse of a retired railroad employee and currently draw Tier 1 and Tier 2 benefits from the RRB. I understand that I can apply at some point for my own Social Security which will be higher than the Tier 1 benefits. When I recently talked to a Social Security employee by phone, she did not know anything about this process and told me my benefit payment would come directly from SS. She was not familiar with certification to the RRB. She did say that I would be asked if . . . Read More
Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: May 6 2020 - 2:57pm
Will My Daughter's Benefits Go Up When Her Half Brother Stops Getting Benefits?
My daughter who 6 and her half brother who is 18 receive survivor benefits from their deceased dad. Her half brother turned 18 in April and will graduate this month. Will my daughters benefits go up? Thank you very much.
Hi,
Assuming that those two children are the only people receiving benefits on their deceased father's Social Security record, then the answer is no. Each eligible surviving child of a deceased worker can receive a maximum of up to 75% of the worker's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). The family maximum benefit (FMB) that can be paid . . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: May 6 2020 - 9:39am
Does It Sound Like I Have Reasonable Grounds For An Appeal?
I am about to file an appeal due to the windfall clause. I worked in Switzerland over a 10 year period and receive a small AVS amount from them. When I filed for retirement (66) in February my benefit was lowered by $411 dollars. Here’s the deal. I asked for an explanation and was sent only a faded form letter. I am filing the appeal to see the actual calculations used based on all of the information I provided. I want to make sure the places I worked for in CH paid properly and that my ex’s income was included. Does that sound like reasonable grounds for an appeal? If I were . . . Read More
Category: Filing An Appeal
Posted: May 6 2020 - 9:22am
Which Month Should I Start My Retirement Benefits In Order To Receive My Maximum Monthly Rate?
Hi. I have looked for an answer to this and can't find it. Even talking to Social Security they were too focused on when the first check would be sent to actually answer my question.
I turn 70 on July 8. I've read on the SSA website some bits of information that says you have to be 70 for the entire month.
My question is: Since my birthdate is not on the first of July, that means that August is the first month where I am 70 for the entire month and therefore I should "start" my retirement in August, not July, correct? If I put July down as the start date for my . . . Read More
Category: Retirement Benefits
Posted: May 5 2020 - 2:42pm
Will I Lose My Own Retirement Benefit If I Just Apply For Survivor Benefits Alone?
My husband has been deceased for twenty years now. I am still working. My monthly retirement is now higher than my monthly survivor benefit. I want to apply for my survivor benefits and let my own retirement benefit grow. Will I lose my own retirement benefit if I just apply for the survivor benefit alone? I am age 62 and never re-married.
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
No, you won't lose your own Social Security retirement benefits if you file for survivor benefits. Depending on how much you earn if you'll still be working, it sounds like your . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: May 4 2020 - 3:41pm
Would It Change Anything If I Filed For Divorce?
was granted ssi but told i receive nothing because my husband's ssdi is to much. We have been living in the same house for over 10 years but on different floors like roommates, was wondering if I filed for divorcee would that change anything?
Hi,
Possibly, but the rules governing eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are much too complex for me to be able to give you a definitive answer. A spouse's Income and resources can cause a person to be ineligible for SSI payments, but so can support received from someone other than a spouse. So . . . Read More
Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: May 4 2020 - 3:22pm
Would I Be Able To Claim Some Of My Ex-Husband's Benefits?
Hi Larry! I just got out of a nasty divorce I'm applying for disability I was married to him for 3 years and he's 12 years older than me and he's a disabled vet. Would I be able to to claim some of his benifets. I have no income and I'm homeless.
Hi,
I'm sorry to hear about your current circumstances. Unfortunately, Social Security is my only area of expertise, so I don't know if you could qualify for any benefits from other agencies such as the Veterans Administration. I can tell you that you wouldn't be able to qualify for any Social Security . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: May 4 2020 - 8:33am
Do You Have Any Thoughts On The Possibility Of Benefits Being Reduced?
Hi Larry,
I am 66 and my wife is 62. We plan to work part-time until I am 68 and my wife is 64 for a total yearly income of $55,000. I have been the larger earner. We are both in good health and are planning our finances with the hope of living past 90. We have used your Maxifi program and found it helpful for our planning. Based on your program we were both going to wait until age 70 to file for social security. I am wondering, however, given the present financial state of social security and the talks of reducing benefits in the future, would it be wise for her to start . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: May 3 2020 - 2:25pm
How Is The 50% Spousal Benefit Calculated?
Situation - Divorcee that had been married 20+ years, currently 56 years old. Ex-Spouse had early onset dementia and was on Social Security Disability for the last 3 + years of his life. Questions 1 How is the amount the 50% spousal benefit is calculated? On the Disability amount that he was drawing upon his death? Or what his regular Social Security calculation would have been upon his reaching FRA ? 2: When could the Divorcee begin drawing the benefit without reduction/penalty? Age 60 or sometime later? 3: would her earnings from her own employment be limited if she began to . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: May 3 2020 - 2:01pm
