Is It True That I Am Not Entitled To My Deceased Ex-Spouse's Full Benefit?
Hi Larry, I was married for more than 10 years to my former husband and never remarried. He recently passed away. I am in my early 70s and have been drawing social security for some time. I am in the process of applying for divorced spousal survivor benefits as he made considerably more money than I did. The social security representative said I am not entitled to his full benefit because he had remarried and only his current wife is entitled to that. That information is counter to any information I can find on their website and other expert sources. Am I wrong? They refuse to . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Apr 27 2023 - 10:41am
Will I Get Social Security If I Move Back To India?
Hi Larry
I am from india on h1b Visa.
I have 40 credits. If I move back to India will I get social security
Hi. Yes. If you meet the eligibility requirements for Social Security retirement or disability benefits, you can be paid those benefits while living in India. However, due to the non-resident alien tax withholding provision, Social Security may need to withhold 25.5% of your monthly benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/international/AlienTax_reference_2.html).
. . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Apr 27 2023 - 10:19am
If I Wait Until Age 70 To Collect My Deceased Husband's Benefits Will It Include DRCs?
I will be at full retirement age in Dec 2023. My spouse passed at age 40. His as benefit is higher than mine. I am still working. If I wait to collect his benefit when I’m 70 will it include the DRC?
Hi. No. Surviving spouses can't earn delayed retirement credits (DRC) by waiting past their full retirement age (FRA) to claim survivor benefits. Therefore, you would not want to wait past your FRA to claim survivor benefits.
Since you're apparently insured for benefits on your own account, your best filing strategy depends on how much you'll be . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Apr 26 2023 - 12:00pm
Was There A Recent Social Security Change That I Missed?
Larry,
I’m a former customer, having subscribed twice over a 3+ year period and was very happy with your planning tool
Last week, both my spouse and our disabled adult child(DAC) each received a separate letter from SSA stating; ‘We reduced the monthly benefit amount beginning Dec 2022 because of a change in the way we compute benefits when someone is entitled on more than one SSA record.’
I’ve tried to be concise below, so hopefully you can opine. Was there a recent change by the SSA that I’ve missed? I was told they review payments twice a year manually . . . Read More
Category: Family Benefit Maximum
Posted: Apr 26 2023 - 10:52am
Can Anything Be Done About My Losing Out On A Lot Of Money Because The People At SS Didn't Give Me The Right Answer?
I was told by ss several times I couldn’t get both ss and rr retirement. I was told you couldn’t double dip. Now I find out years later that you can. I’ve lost out on a lot of money because the people at ss didn’t give me the right answer. Can anything be done?
Hi. You can apply for Social Security benefits now, but you could only be paid retroactively for up to 6 months from the month you apply. However, if you can prove that you were dissuaded from applying sooner due to misinformation you received from a Social Security employee, then you could . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Apr 25 2023 - 4:20pm
Is Filing To Be Representative Payee For My Mother The Only Way To Get Survivor Benefits?
After my dad passed away in march, we later found out none of us are on record. And because of this my mother nor me (son) cant get survivor benefits. They gave me one option where i need a letter from her doctor saying she is unfit to handle own finances and i would be her representative payee. Is this the only way to get the benefits? Time is creeping by and after 2 months no extra monies are coming in. Our rent and other bill paying may be in jeopardy come june. This first time for me handling everything that my dad used to do. My mother is 91, invalid and iam 58 and . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Apr 25 2023 - 12:01pm
Must I Withdraw Funds From My Retirement Account?
I'm Single , approaching 59 1/2yrs , receiving SSI Disability & state Medicaid. Must I withdraw funds from my Retirement account ? It's under $50k., & Is Medicaid a factor for me in the Requirement ?? I have no depends , became Disabled at 55 yrs old. Thank you
Hi. You say that you're receiving SSI Disability, but I'm not sure if by that you mean Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. Supplemental Security Income is a needs based program administered by Social Security, and you can't qualify for SSI if . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Apr 24 2023 - 12:14pm
Will My CALSTRS Pension Cause My Wife's Social Security Benefits To Be Reduced?
I cannot find an answer to my question anywhere.
I am a CA retired teacher with a CALSTRS pension (2019). CALSTRS does not pay into Social Security. After I retired, the social security earnings that I was receiving while still on the job (from my private employment many years ago) was cut by more than half through the Windfall Elimination Protocol (WEP)
My wife works in the financial industry. She is thinking of taking early retirement SS benefits. As soon as she retires, will her Social Security benefits be reduced by my WEP too?
Thanks for your answer, . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Apr 24 2023 - 8:53am
If My Spouse Takes Spousal Benefits Early, Would That Cause Her Survivor Rate To Also Be Reduced Even If I Die After She Reaches Her Full Retirement Age?
If my spouse starts taking the spousal benefit early, prior to her full retirement age of 66 and 10 months, then if I pass away and she converts to survivor benefit after her full retirement age, is her survivor benefit reduced from having taken the spousal benefit early? If my spouse starts taking the spousal benefit early, prior to her full retirement age of 66 and 10 months, then if I pass away and she converts to survivor benefit after her full retirement age, is her survivor benefit reduced from having taken the spousal benefit early?
Hi. No. Spousal . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Apr 24 2023 - 8:40am
If I Repay My Overpayment In Full Will My Monthly Payments Continue To Be Paid?
Hi Larry.
If Social Security requests overpayment for me being over the earnings limit (early retirement taken) and I give them back payment in full, will they screw things up and start withhold some monthly payments, or continue sending my payments without missing a beat, as soon as they recover the overpayment? I have had nothing but problems with them in the past and wonder if it is best to just let them recover the overpayment by taking my monthly payments due, instead of paying them in full. I basically don't have much faith anymore. Thanks for your advice, in . . . Read More
Category: Social Security Overpayments
Posted: Apr 24 2023 - 8:33am
