Could My Wife Qualify For Mother's Benefits If I Die?
If I pass away before my FRA and before filing for my Social Security retirement benefit, I guess my widow can claim a survivor benefit on my work record and receive up to 100% of my PIA, but she will have to wait until her own FRA in 2027 to claim it or it will be reduced. But because she will be taking care of our disabled adult child, could she immediately file for mother's benefits, and receive some fraction of my PIA right away? The child would receive a DAC survivor benefit of 75% of my PIA, I guess. Would both payments be reduced to fit within a family max calculated . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Feb 11 2020 - 11:35am
Could My Fiancée Qualify For Benefits If We Marry?
I am 68 and divorced and collecting SS retirement benefit. I want to remarry to a non US citizen in a foreign country who already has two children for me. We are currently leaving overseas and our two children have US citizen status and collecting child benefits but my fiancee has no social security number. Can she qualify for any benefits at all while I am alive or when I die ?
Hi,
If you marry your fiancée and she's not a U.S. resident then she could likely only be paid either spousal or survivor benefits from your Social Security record if you a) . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Feb 11 2020 - 11:13am
How Will The Fact That I Cashed Out My PERS Affect My Social Security Benefits?
Twenty five years ago I cashed out my pers. Now today I am filling under my wife’s social security.How will this affect my social security retirement?
Hi,
I assume that you're referring to a public employee pension plan where your earnings were exempt from Social Security taxes. If you received a lump sum payment in lieu of a pension then your lump sum would be prorated by Social Security and could result in a full or partial offset of any spousal benefits for which you might otherwise qualify. But, if you withdrew only your contributions, with or . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Feb 11 2020 - 11:01am
If I Die Before My Wife What Would She Receive?
I'm 71 years old, and my wife is 64 and she started collecting at 62 and is getting a proximately half of what I get, if I die before she does what does she receive?
Hi,
The exact amount that your wife would receive in the event of your death depends on whether or not you started drawing your benefits prior to full retirement age (FRA) and whether or not your wife is at least FRA when she starts drawing widow's benefits.
If you did not start drawing reduced Social Security retirement benefits prior to FRA and your wife is at least FRA when you . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Feb 11 2020 - 10:51am
Is It True That If I Don't Have Medicare Deducted At Age 65 It Will Be Increased?
do i understand right that if i don't have my medicare deducted from my social security when i turn 65, that it will be increased at a different rate then if i do have it deducted. i heard that if the medicare increase is higher than the cost of living for social security, if it is deducted ,the rise would be reduced to match the cola amount. could you explain
Hi,
Most people first become eligible for Medicare at age 65. Part A of Medicare is usually premium free, but you must pay a monthly premium if you elect to enroll in Parts B and D of Medicare . . . Read More
Category: Medicare
Posted: Feb 11 2020 - 6:17am
When I Die Can My Wife Request My Benefits If They're Higher Than Hers?
When my wife passed I took her SS retirement over mine since it was higher . I am now re married to someone receiving SS . When I die can my wife request my benefits since mine will be more tha hers . Thank you
Hi,
Yes, if you die before your wife, she could claim benefits based on your Social Security earnings history. However, she could not be paid any of the survivor benefits that you receive from your former wife's account.
Best, Jerry
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Feb 10 2020 - 2:27pm
If A Person Is Drawing Reduced Spousal Benefits Prior To FRA And Their Spouse Dies, Can They Continue To Draw Their Spousal Benefits?
I have a question about the relationship of survivor's benefits and spousal benefits. Suppose that the facts are these: (1) I am 64, and I have been taking my spousal benefit since 62, (2) my spousal benefit is greater than my own retirement benefit, and (3) my husband passes away at 72. I want to wait until FRA before taking my survivor's benefit to maximize its value. In the meantime, can I keep my spousal benefit even though my husband is dead, or will my social security benefit revert to my own retirement benefit which is less than my spousal benefit?
Hi . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Feb 10 2020 - 2:04pm
Can Your Software Calculate Benefit Rates For People Who Retire Early But Want To Wait Until Age 70 To Claim Benefits?
Hi Larry,
I have been unable to find a retirement calculator that reflects my desire to stop working at age 65 (stop receiving income) but delay filing until age 70. The SSA calculator assumes you will work up until the time you file for benefits which is not my desire. Does your Maximize My Social Security site provide calculators such as that, or could you recommend a planning resource that does? I would like to be able to take my earnings history from the SSA site and plug in future projected earnings to play with different retirement scenarios.
Thanks,
. . . Read More
Category: Maximize My Social Security Software
Posted: Feb 10 2020 - 1:46pm
If I Get Divorced Can I Get My Ex-Husband's Social Security?
I was married for 19 1/2 years to my ex husband. I was his second wife. He was married to her for 4 years. He died in 2018 at 67. I’m separated from my current husband pending divorce ASAP. My question is once I’m divorced can I get my ex husbands Social Security?! Oh I’m disabled if that matters. I don’t know.
Please respond ASAP.
Thanks
Hi,
It sounds like you may be eligible for surviving divorced spousal benefits if you divorce your current husband, but you'd have to be at least age 60 or at least age 50 and disabled in order to qualify . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Feb 10 2020 - 12:59pm
Can My Wife File For Railroad Spousal Benefits Without Jeopardizing Her Future Social Security Benefits?
I just turned 66 in January 2020 and applied for RR retirement (Tier 1 and 2) because is was an higher amount then my Social Security benefit would have been. I work for 10+ years for the Railroad Company and then another 30 years of employment outside of Railroad employment. When I applied for my RR retirement, they said my wife was entitled to a $1400 per month spousal benefit. She is still working and plans to retire from her job in a couple of years. She will be 66 in March 2020.
We are in a financial position that we really do not need the funds but want to maximize . . . Read More
Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: Feb 10 2020 - 12:50pm
