If My Husband Dies Can His Ex-Wife Take His Benefits From Me?
I was hoping you can help me. I’m disabled. I’m married to my husband for 5 years now. But I’ve been with him for 11 years now. He has an ex wife. They were married for 18 months and then legally separate. They couldn’t afford the divorce plus they had a son together but they lived in separate houses. She is claiming that when my husband dies. She can take his social security from me. That’s if I don’t die first I’m very sick. I hope you can help me. Thank you Debb
Hi Debb. I'm sorry to hear about your illness. Your situation isn't clear based on your . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Aug 31 2022 - 2:12pm
Is It Too Late To Ask Social Security For Proof That My Ex-Husband's Benefit Amount Was Lower Than Mine?
I am 68 ,I already started my benefits, but was told my ex husband who died and was a doctor did not have more then me. Is it too late to ask them for proof?
Hi. I'm not sure what you would be looking for in the way of proof, but what you can do is contact Social Security to insist on applying for surviving divorced spousal benefits. Social Security would then need to make a formal determination of your eligibility. If your claim is disallowed, your disallowance notice should explain why your claim was disallowed. If you're not satisfied with their . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Aug 29 2022 - 5:02pm
Will My Deceased Son-In-Law's PIA Be Credited With Future COLAs?
My son-in-law passed away at age 52 and was receiving ssd at the tim of death. My daughter plans on taking the survivor benefit at age 60. She was told his PIA was approx. $3,000.00 monthly. My question is will her husbands PIA get credit for the yearly COLAS until she claims her survivor benefit. SS ADMIN said no.
Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. Yes, the primary insurance amount's (PIA) of a person who's deceased is updated to include all Social Security cost of living increases that occur after the person's date of death.
Best, Jerry
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Aug 29 2022 - 4:41pm
Can I Be Penalized Twice For The 2/3rds Rule?
Can I be penalize twice for the 2/3 rule? I retired from DoD and became a contractor paying into SS. When I retired from private industry, I was assessed 2/3 reduction. I accepted that, it was not news. My spouse passed several years later (last year). When I applied for widow's benefit I was told in one paragraph that I would receive $700 more a month (the difference between my husband SS). In the next paragraph I was told that I would not get the additional monies because of the 2/3 rule. I reclama it in writing using double penalization rule. Have never heard anything more. . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Aug 29 2022 - 3:15pm
Can My Wife Get Any Of My SS While I'm Still Working?
Can my spouse get any percentage of my S,S, while I'm still working and she retired at full retirement age and she gets 1500.00 per month.
Hi. Your spouse couldn't be paid any spousal benefits unless and until you are drawing your Social Security retirement or disability benefits. Furthermore, since she's drawing her own benefits, she could only qualify for additional spousal benefits if 50% of your primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than your spouse's own PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Aug 29 2022 - 7:04am
Should I Be Receiving My Full SS Amount?
Larry my question is I had cancer and the chemo did permanent damage. I went on disability. Then my husband passed. My ck was more. Now I'm 66 my ss would be more. I'm so confused. Should I be receiving my full ss amount?
Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. I would need more information to be able to give you a definite answer. Here is what I can tell you. When you're eligible for both your own benefits and widow's or disabled widow's benefits (DWB), you can't be paid both benefits in full. You can basically only be paid up to the higher of the two benefit . . . Read More
Category: Benefit Amount
Posted: Aug 29 2022 - 6:38am
If I Take My Benefits In November 2022 Will I Be Eligible For The January 2023 COLA Increase?
My full retirement is July 2023. However, If I decide to begin to take my benefits in November 2022, will I be eligible for the COLA increase in January 2023?
Hi. Yes, but you'll be eligible for the January 2023 Social Security cost of living (COLA) increase even if you don't start drawing your benefits until after January 2023. Social Security retirement benefit rates are increased to include all Social Security COLAs that occur after a person turns age 62 no matter when they start drawing benefits.
You should strongly consider using our software . . . Read More
Category: Cost Of Living Increases
Posted: Aug 28 2022 - 10:10pm
Will My Child's Benefit Go Up When Her Sister Turns 18?
My boyfriend had two children 1 is 16 now ( not mine ) the other is mine she’s 5 . I’m wondering if my child’s benefits will go up when her sister turns 18
Hi. The answer to your question depends on whether or not your boyfriend is living or deceased. If he's living, then your child's benefit rate will likely go up when her sister is no longer eligible for benefits, but not if he is deceased.
Children who are eligible for child benefits on the account of a living parent can be paid a maximum of 50% of the parent's primary insurance amount (PIA). . . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Aug 28 2022 - 6:53pm
Are Only The Earnings That I Had Up Until Full Retirement Age Used To Calculate My Benefit Rate?
I have always been bothered because I don't believe my 4 highest years of earnings (from the time I was 67 until I retired at 70) were calculated into my final retirement benefits. When I would review each year what my projected benefit amount would be, I still hadn't earned my four highest salaries. And the amount that was projected before my highest earnings were paid into SSA, was what I eventually received. I continue to read that a person's benefit amount is based on their highest earnings but yet mine is not. Are the earnings only based until full retirement AGE is met or . . . Read More
Category: Benefit Amount
Posted: Aug 28 2022 - 6:41pm
Can It Be Correct That My Mom Can't Qualify For Any Social Security Benefits?
My mom worked for a while before marrying my dad and deciding to stay home to raise children. Then, after they were divorced, she went back to work for the federal government. She has been told that she cannot collect social security based on her pre-marriage work/contributions. She also has been told that she cannot collect spousal benefits, due to her post-divorce employment by the federal government -- they say she's stuck with her federal pension, which is small, since she started work for the federal government so late in life. I can't understand why she should be blocked . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Aug 28 2022 - 3:46pm
