Can I Collect My Deceased Husband's Social Security Without Quitting My Job And Still Be Able To Change Over To My Amount At FRA Or Age 70?
I contacted SSA regarding Survivior benefit. My husband passed 10 years ago. I have recieved two different answers. The last being I could collect his social security amount without having to quit my job and still be able to change over to my amount at full retirement age or at age 70. This was not the same answer I recieved previously. Thank you
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
I can't give you a good answer because you don't mention your current age nor how much you're earning. You could potentially qualify for widow's benefits starting as early . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Mar 6 2020 - 4:20pm
What Amount Should My Ex-Wife Receive?
my ex wife filed for her early retirement on dec 5 2019,she turns 62 in feb 2020 she also filed on my ss retiremnt which is 2310 per mo for my full retirement at age 66. iI am now 76 ,we were married 11 years ,she has not remarried.The social security office determined an early retirement amount of 673 on her work record and an amount of 769 on my record. The office person said she would get a combined sum of 673 + 769 for a total of 1442 per month ibeleive this is incorrect, using your formulas I calculate closer to 815 per mo. Which number do you calculate closer to the . . . Read More
Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: Mar 6 2020 - 7:47am
Is It Correct That I Don't Need To Worry About My Vacation Payment If I Receive It Before The Month I Turn 60?
I plan to take survivor's benefits when I turn 60 in July of this year. I'm currently working and want to wait till SS confirms I will receive the benefits before I give notice / quit my job (I'd like to my last day to be in June). My appointment is in April - how long can I expect to wait before I receive confirmation in writing from S.S. that my benefits will begin the month following my birthday and the $ amount? Also, I expect to receive about $7,500 in vacation payout. If I receive this money in June I shouldn't have to worry about exceeding the monthly earnings limit . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Mar 6 2020 - 7:34am
Can I Draw Railroad Spousal Benefits And Later File For Social Security At Age 67?
My husband retired at 65 with 38 years at Amtrak. I want to retire at 60 where I get approximately 1/2 of what he gets from Railroad Retirement. My question is can I do this for 7 years and then switch over to Social Security at age 67? I think I would still be able to get my tier 2 as well as social security?
Hi,
Yes, you can file for Railroad Retirement (RR) benefits without also being deemed to applying for Social Security benefits. You could then apply separately for Social Security benefits whenever to choose to do so.
However, if a . . . Read More
Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: Mar 5 2020 - 4:05pm
Can I Appeal Social Security's Decision To Award Me Only Six Months Of Retroactive Benefits?
I applied for retirement benefits on my ex-spouse’s record in Jan, 2020, I turned 70 in Feb, 2020. I applied on her record as it would yield me a little more of a monthly benefit. I also received a six month lump sum retroactive payment going back to July, 2019. I was happy of course but also annoyed with myself for not applying earlier, as my ex-spouse turned 62 in Sept, 2018. Now I’ve read in a book called, Social Security 101, by Alfred Mill, (published 2016) the following on page 142:
“If you were born on or before April 30, 1950, you can claim the retroactive lump- . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Mar 5 2020 - 3:01pm
Can I Use My Wife's Employer Health Coverage To Prevent Future Increased Medicare Premiums?
Hi Larry, I am 65 and will reach my Full Retirement age of 66 in early May. My wife and I have saved approx. $1.7 M in our retirement acounts. I have made arrangements to stop my current full time employment at the end of this month. I plan to work per diem two days per week through my own S corporation to lower my income for two years until my wife reaches her Full Retirement age in order to reduce my salary so as to reduce my Medicare premiums after I retire. I will no longer have the Health Care insurance benefit of my current employer. Will I be able to use my wife's . . . Read More
Category: Medicare
Posted: Mar 4 2020 - 3:48pm
Is It True That I Can Draw On My Ex's Account At Age 62 And Then Claim My Own Full Benefits At Full Retirement Age?
I am divorced, after 15years of marriage. I am being told that at 62 years of age, I can draw on my ex husbands social security until my full retirement age 0f 66 and 6 months, then at age 66 and 6 months start drawing on my benefits enabling me to draw the max amount I have earned. Is this information accurate?
Hi,
That depends on whether or not your ex-spouse is living. If he is, then no you couldn't file for divorced spousal benefits at age 62 and then switch to your own account at a later age. In fact, assuming that you were born after January 1 . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Mar 4 2020 - 3:33pm
Is Social Security Correct In Saying That I Don't Qualify For Widower Benefits?
I'm confused.
Social security told me that I was not eligible to receive widower benefits because my spouse had a private pension plan. Also I had to be 60 or 50 and disabled. Well I had been disabled since since I was 52 and it was documented by the V.A that was the last time I had worked. Also yes my spouse did have a private pension plan, but she also worked a second job with social security taken out.
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
Whether or not your deceased wife had a private pension plan, as long as she was insured for Social . . . Read More
Category: Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Mar 4 2020 - 3:14pm
Will Both My Wife And Child Be Eligible For Half Of My PIA, Subject To The Family Maximum?
Hi Larry. Its been a few years since I subscribed and took advantage of your software. As I get closer to FRA, I am thinking it might behoove me to resubscribe and let you run figures again. Hoping you can answer a few questions that will help me in my choices. I plan to (likely) retire in 12/2021 when I turn 67. My wife will be age 60 at that time. We have a disabled adult child in our care who has received SSI since age 18.
1) If I retire on the date above, will BOTH my DAC son AND my age 60 wife, as spouse in custody of our DAC, be eligible for a social security . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Mar 3 2020 - 5:28pm
Will My Spousal Benefits Be Reduced Because I'm Still Working?
I am planning to have my wife (7/15/50, not working) apply for SS benefits to begin after her next birthday. I (11/14/52) am planning to file a restricted application for spousal benefits to begin at the same time and continue working with the intent to wait until I turn 70 to apply for benefits on my own work record. Q1: Will my spousal benefits be reduced because I am still working? Q2: My wife is covered by medical coverage through work. Will she be automatically enrolled in Medicare regardless of my coverage?
Hi,
No. There is no limit on the amount that you can earn and . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Mar 2 2020 - 5:16pm
