Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

Displaying 4851 - 4860 of 10063 questions.

Should I Withdraw My Application That I Filed In November?

It is now nearing the end of June, after waiting since November 2018 for my retirement benefits to process, I am being told I need to withdraw my retirement application filed online. Could this be right?

In 2007 my husband took his SS at 62. We had a son (age 15) and a disabled daughter (age 17) living at home. I and the 15 year-old received dependent benefits for 7 months until he turned 16, at which time his benefits terminated and mine suspended.

I applied for my benefits at age 62 and have been waiting over 7 months for them to finish processing. Now I am . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jun 23 2019 - 2:16pm

Can I File A Restricted Application For Spousal Benefits If My Wife Continues Working?

Hi Larry: i was born 02/21/52 my wife was born 11/03/55
Question: can I file a restricted application for spousal benefit if my wife continues to work full time and she does not file for social security?( under current rules she would need to return all money to SS because of penalties)
please advice , thank you.

Hi,

You couldn't be paid any spousal benefits unless your wife files for her benefits and her earnings are low enough to permit payment of at least some benefits. Both her benefits and your spousal benefits would be subject to . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jun 22 2019 - 5:17pm

Should This Wife Claim Her Benefits Now?

Hello Larry - I purchased both books - Get What's Yours for Social Security and the one for Medicare. I have a fairly simple situation but can't seem to pinpoint the answer in the material. Wife reached FRA in May of this year 2019 and husband will reach FRA in November of this year. Wife has little to no earnings record as a stay at home mom and 1/2 of husband's benefit will be much higher. Since she is now FRA should she file now? or should she wait until he reaches FRA in November 2019? I think I read he must also be taking benefits. I am also not sure if they are affected . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jun 22 2019 - 4:37pm

Can A Man Be Forced By Medicare To Provide Health Insurance For His Ex-Wife?

Can a man who filed for divorce be forced by Medicare to provide health insurance for his wife on social security disability?

Hi,

I'm not sure if I understand your question. A person can't be forced to provide Medicare for an ex-spouse, but they also can't prevent an ex-spouse from qualifying for Medicare if the ex-spouse meets the requirements.

For example, if spouse A never paid into Social Security and is divorced after 10 years of marriage to spouse B who is insured for Social Security benefits, and if spouse A is at least age 65 and . . . Read More

Category: Medicare
Posted: Jun 20 2019 - 9:24pm

What Would Happen If I Decide To Start Drawing My Own Benefits Before Age 70?

Spouse & I both waited until full retirement age of 66 to begin Social Security however I took a spousal benefit & let me own benefit mature. I will be 70 in November. If I start my own benefit in June & I already received my spousal benefit, will I receive the additional amount between the two benefits? My own benefit “gross” would be @ $2319 vs spousal gross of $1405. Should I claim earlier than June of this year to get the additional difference amount less what was already paid to me under the spousal benefit? I realize they would need to take the tax out of the . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jun 20 2019 - 9:13pm

Why Am I Again Being Penalized?

I worked as a teacher in KY and therefore the SS I had earned prior to my teaching job was cut by about 2/3. My husband who never worked for a government agency and paid into SS for 30 years died this year. They cut the amount of his SS I received as surviving spouse by 2/3. This seems extremely unfair as he paid into the system for 30, or more years, never worked for government. Why am I again being penalized through my husbands benefits? The 2/3 is a close estimate, definitely more than 1/2.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

It sounds like 2 . . . Read More

Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Jun 20 2019 - 8:00pm

Can I Suspend My Benefits And Draw On My Wife's Record?

Hi Larry: I was born in Sept. 1955 and my wife was born in 1952. I am a 100% disabled veteran and was DENIED after two years of working with an attorney to be approved for SS Disability. During this time my lawyer, who was confident that we would be approved, said I should start drawing on my regular SS at a reduced rate., which I did, under his advice. I started drawing my reduced benefit in Sept. 2018. . . Am I able to suspend and draw on my wife's social security, she began her benefits a full age. Or if not, what are my options to suspend or withdraw my benefits and wait . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jun 20 2019 - 5:09pm

Will Social Security Look At Whether Or Not You Are Performing Substantial Services No Matter How Much You Earn?

Hi, I read on a web site that if you start SS prior to FRA and are self employed that SS will look at whether or not you are performing substantial services in each year up to FRA even if you are under the annual earnings limit. Is that incorrect?

Hi,

No. Substantial services in self-employment, which Social Security in most cases defines as devoting more than 45 hours to a trade or business in a month, is only considered if the self-employed person's net earnings exceed the annual earnings test exempt amount. Also, substantial services in self- . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Jun 20 2019 - 4:49pm

Should We Pay Into Social Security To Increase Our Benefits If We're Working In Japan?

Dear Larry - my husband and I have been living and working in Japan for a number of years. We qualify for SS benefits based on our earlier employment in the US. My question is - we are now looking towards retirement but still in Japan and working and our salaries here are much higher here - does it make sense to pay into SS in these last few years of work to increase our SS benefits - the software you have seems to indicate this is the case but wanted to be certain. Just FYI - working outside of the country we did not pay SS but, of course, pay all other US taxes and Japan . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Subject To Social Security Taxes
Posted: Jun 20 2019 - 4:31pm

What Can I Do About My Overpayment?

My social security benefits were suspended because i owe. An overpayment it been suspended since. May 2019 i cant pay my rent my car insurance my phone. Bill i have stop working since jan 4 2019 so i apply back overim so upset about this i also

Hi,

I don't know enough details about your case to be able to properly advise you, but if you can't pay your bills without your Social Security benefits you should contact Social Security and ask for a lower rate of recovery of your overpayment. That way you would at least be able to receive a portion of your . . . Read More

Category: Social Security Overpayments
Posted: Jun 20 2019 - 6:56am
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