How Do I Choose Which Of My Ex-Spouses To File On?
I was married fir 11 years to my first husband and 16 years to my 2nd husband. At this tim I do not qualify for my own SS. How do I choose which one to file on? If one should pass away, will my benefit’s increase to his full amount. Also , how do I find out how much they are receiving now ? Thank you , sheri
Hi Sheri. I assume you mean that you were married twice and divorced twice, and that both of your ex-spouses are still living. In that case, to be eligible for divorced spousal benefits you must be unmarried and at least age 62, and the ex-spouse on . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Aug 11 2022 - 5:21pm
Do I Qualify For An Additional Financial Benefit Due To Abuse And Violence Committed By My Ex-Spouse?
Hi Larry.
Can you please help me with your social security advuce? Below are details and questions.
My name is Deanne. I will be 65 years old on December 16th. I was born in 1957.
During my 25 years of marriage, I was physically and verbally abused by my husband at that time. He was arrested on 1 occasion, he went to jail, he went to court and was found guilty. I have a copy of the police report. I personally have over 40 credits on my own work record and qualify for social security. I have not taken my benefits on my work record yet.
For maximizing . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Aug 11 2022 - 8:51am
Will I Still Get A Spousal Benefit When I Apply For My Own Benefits?
My SS statement shows 2 accounts. My spousal benefits and my own account. The 2 add up to what my account alone should total. After I apply for my benefits at age 70, will I still get the spousal benefit as well as my own or will it all be consideredy own benefit? Getting $1500 spousal benefit,. my own should be $5000, but is showing $3500.
Hi. You can't be paid both Social Security retirement benefits and a full spousal benefit at the same time. If you were born prior to January 2 1954 and if you're collecting spousal benefits based on a restricted . . . Read More
Category: Benefit Amount
Posted: Aug 10 2022 - 8:08pm
How Will The Severance Payment My Employer Offered Me Affect My Disability Benefits?
I've been on social security disability since 2007, work the part-time job for the last 14 years I'm leaving and they offered me a severance it's a small severance about 7,500 how will that affect my disability payments
Hi. Severance pay is generally considered as wages, so it could affect your Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits if it causes your average monthly earnings to exceed the amount that Social Security defines as substantial gainful activity (SGA). In 2022, SGA for non-blind individuals is earnings in excess of $1350 per month, and for . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Aug 10 2022 - 5:20pm
Shouldn't My Benefit Rate Be Higher?
COLA Applied: Larry thanks for responding to my question from this morning; however, the issue I have is that my benefits estimate does not reflect any COLA increases from when I turned 62 Nov 2020 to this year. Example last year I made 3K more in income and my annual update was only $8.00 per month for my benefits estimate in Feb of this year. Hardly the 5.9% COLA from 2021 ! Per the SSA site they send out a COLA update message every year and I have never received any such message to my SSA account. I hope they add in the COLA when I receive my benefits letter. Lastly because . . . Read More
Category: Benefit Amount
Posted: Aug 10 2022 - 5:11pm
When Is The COLA Applied?
I recently applied for Social Security and was approved and my forecasted benefit amount is the same amount of my benefit estimate ! When is the Cola applied ? I turned 62 in Nov of 2020 and I turn 64 this Nov. I did not receive any COLA updates to my estimates in the last 3 years. I believe you said on a previous post that those COLAs are baked in to your annual updates ? Not mine and the SSA office is very deceptive with their answers every time I call. My official benefits letter is in the mail so I am hoping this will explain everything in detail but I am holding my breathe . . . Read More
Category: Cost Of Living Increases
Posted: Aug 10 2022 - 1:07pm
Do I Need A Lawyer To Garnish My Ex's SS Benefits?
My ex is collecting social security and he owes me child support. The case was file in 1996 in California. Do I need a lawyer to garnish his SS benefits ?
Hi. Unless you know how to go about obtaining a garnishment order from a court of law, then the answer is probably yes. You can't garnish someone's Social Security benefits simply by asking Social Security to do it. The only way that Social Security will garnish a person's benefits to pay child support is if they are presented with a valid garnishment order from a court of law.
Best, Jerry
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Aug 10 2022 - 12:55pm
Are There Any Filing Strategies For Me To Consider?
My husband took his Social Security at FRA, although he continued to work until he was 70. (Not a good strategy for me)). Social security adjusted each year based on his additional earnings although it was not by a lot and he paid into Social Security on some of his earnings. He now has cancer and I need to help him but I also need to work. The restricted Social Security will not work even at my FRA because I was born after 1954. I am hoping I don't have to take my Social Security until age 70 because I think if he dies before me I will not have enough money otherwise. Is there . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Aug 10 2022 - 12:40pm
Why Would My Amount Be Reduced Due To Early Retirement?
I was born in 1952. At age 65, I started collecting on my ex spouse's social security. I am now 70 and going to collect my own benefit. Social Security indicated that my application but said my amount was reduced due to "early retirement". I am not retiring until
Hi. It looks like you didn't finish your question. In any case, since you were born prior to January 2 1954 you had the option to file a restricted application for divorced spousal benefits effective at your full retirement age (FRA) while allowing your own benefit rate to grow until age 70. FRA . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Aug 10 2022 - 8:48am
Does The WEP Reduction Apply During Suspended Status?
Does the WEP reduction apply during Suspended status?
I had understood that the WEP reduction doesn't apply during the suspension period, was I mistaken?
I received a letter from SSA stating that they reduced my SSA benefits due to WEP.
I chose to suspend for two reasons:
1. Delay the SSA benefits to increase the amount.
2. Avoid the WEP reduction until I reinstated the SSA benefits.
Hi. Benefit rate reductions caused by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) take effect with the first month that a person is entitled to both . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Aug 8 2022 - 4:13pm