Ask Larry: Questions and Answers | BAM - Maximize My Social Security

Displaying 4911 - 4920 of 10063 questions.

Can Two Disabled People Get Married In Colorado And Receive SSDI?

can 2 disabled people get married in colorado, and ssdi,

Hi,

I'm not an expert on Colorado's laws, but getting married has no effect on Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. So, if a couple gets married anywhere and they are both receiving SSDI, their SSDI benefits won't change.

However, benefits for people receiving disabled adult child's benefits based on the work record of a parent are terminated if they marry, unless the person they marry also receives Social Security benefits. And, people receiving Supplemental Security income ( . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Jun 2 2019 - 12:26pm

Am I Eligible To Draw Just Widower's Benefits And Wait Until Age 70 To Draw My Own Benefits?

Larry and your colleagues -- thank you very much for providing an excellent service to the community. My question is a bit complicated -- hopefully you will be able to find time time to answer it. I was born in 1953. I have been qualified and received social security disability benefits until I was 66 and then my social security benefits converted into my regular social security benefits upon reaching my FRA. Though my social security disability payments were supposed to stop earlier when I turned 65 and 8 months old because I started working when I turned 64 and 11 months old . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: May 31 2019 - 9:17am

Can I Now Pay The Money That I Haven't Paid Over The Past 22 Years Without Penalty?

I was an employee for 20 years and paid SS and medicare/medicaid. I am 59 and do not plan on retiring any time soon. My current projected SSA monthly benefit is $1800 at 67 and $2300 at 70. For the past 22 years I have been self-employed and not paid SS taxes or medicare. Questions: 1) Can I now pay the money I have NOT paid over the past 22 years without penalty? If I do pay for back years, will that increase my monthly benefit or will it remain where it is? Would it be better to add the money to my retirement account rather than the SSA?

Hi,

You can . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Subject To Social Security Taxes
Posted: May 31 2019 - 8:11am

What Benefits Count For WEP Purposes?

Hi Larry. Good stuff on your site.

That said, the online question and answer re receiving both US and CH social security benefits resulting in a reduction on the US side via WEP may be misleading. Your online answer then refers to "pension" on the Swiss side when the question asks about US and CH "social security". A "pension", in my understanding, is not equivalent to "social security" (which is defined in CH (and under its totalization agreement with the US) as "Old-Age and Survivors Insurance", or, in expat terms as Tier 1)). (CH Tier 2, and certainly Tier 3 in CH, . . . Read More

Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: May 31 2019 - 7:56am

Can I Receive Retroactive Benefits As A Spouse From When My Children Were Under Age 16?

My husband has is receiving disability. In 2012 I did not receive any income while my husband was on disability. Can I receive retro active benefits as a spouse that I was entitled to that I did not apply for as a spouse when our children where under 16 years of age? When my husband applied for social security, I did not realize I was entitled to receive benefits if I did not have any income in a particular year.

Hi,

No, you can't claim Social Security child in care spousal benefits any farther back than 6 months prior to the month you apply for them . . . Read More

Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: May 30 2019 - 12:12pm

Can I Continue Paying Into My HSA If I Sign Up For Medicare And Suspend It?

I reached 65 but plan to work a few more years. I have a company health insurance. I want to keep paying into my HSA can I do this if I sign up for medicare and suspend it?

Hi,

No, and you can't voluntarily suspend Medicare coverage anyway. However, as long as you or your spouse is an active employee and you're enrolled in an employer group health plan that covers at least 20 employees, you could instead delay enrolling in Medicare without penalty for as long as your work and coverage continues.

Best, Jerry

Category: Medicare
Posted: May 29 2019 - 9:42am

Can I File For Spousal Benefits At Age 62 And Get Off Of SSDI?

Hi i am 60 and on SSDI. I want to get off and maybe move back to the UK. Is there a way for me to file on spouses at 62 and get of SSDI? I don't think i can get SSDI and live abroad, although thats all very vague. If i file on his i would get 50% right? 50% of a reduced amount? So if his is say 1600 - 50% say 25% = 600.00? What happens when i reach FRA? Will it switch back to the SSDI amount i am getting now, which is more?

Hi,

You can continue to receive your Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits even if you move to the UK. Your SSDI benefits . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: May 29 2019 - 5:05am

Will My Pension Be Considered As Income When Social Security Decides Whether To Withhold My Survivor Benefits?

Hi.

My wife passed away at age 56 and she did accrue some Social Security Benefits. I plan on retiring at age 60.5 and will be applying survivor's benefits under her account. This will amount to around $730/month (this is what a SS representative told me when I called them.

I have a choice at retirement of either a lump sum payment or a monthly pension payment (not inflation indexed). I was planning on taking the pension payment but the amount ($3175/month) will be well above the income limit
where they reduce the social security benefits. Then at age 70 . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Test
Posted: May 28 2019 - 4:21pm

When Should I Start Drawing My Benefits?

Should i take Social Security at age 66 (FRA) or 70 or when I quite working? I plan on working until age 67 or 69. I'm in a 24% tax bracket and think if I take social security while I'm working that I'll pay significant taxes on it my Social Security check. I live in California, so I would pay Federal Income tax on it not state tax. My tax bracket should be around 12% when i quite working. Also, consider my Part B increase which would be $185 month.
My monthly SS check at age (FRA) 66 is $2,710, age 67 $2,951, age 70 $3,598
What would be my break even point?
. . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: May 28 2019 - 3:48pm

Am I Correct That I Shouldn't Be Required To File For My Social Security Retirement Benefits Prior To Age 70?

Dear Larry,

I’m trying to argue with SSI that I was exempted from “filing for other benefits” namely SS RIB based upon Exception C in SI 00510.001 Overview of the Filing for Other Program Benefits Requirement in the POMS manual. I’m fighting this because if I delay RIB to age 70 and gain enough from my book sales I want to be free and done with SSI. Essentially I’m correct in that the filing for the RIB would not increase the benefit thereby exempting me from filing for RIB. SSI argues the filing triggers a GEI (General Income Exclusion) of $20 that raises the payment . . . Read More

Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: May 28 2019 - 3:32pm

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