If my wife claimed spousal benefit at 65 , her full retirement would be 66 6 months, would she still receive my full amount if I died first?
Hi. Yes, provided that your wife is at least full retirement age (FRA) or older at the time of your death.
Best, Jerry
Hello
I married a Filipina in the Philippines
She has never been to the USA
We are currently living in the Philippines
Will my wife be able to get Survivers Benefits when I pass away?
Hi. It doesn't sound like your wife could currently be paid benefits, unless you're a U.S. military service veteran and you die from a service connected injury or illness. The alien nonpayment provisions of the Social Security Act bar payment of benefits to non U.S. citizens who live outside of the U.S. unless they meet one of the exceptions to the . . . Read More
Is there anyway possible around the Government Pension Offset?
I worked for a small municipality and fell into a niche group between 1980-81 that did not pay into Social Security. It was never explained (or offered to us) after that, that we could be reinstated into the system. (22 yrs old and Social Security was a mystery.)
I was married for 23 yrs and told I was eligible for "Spousal Benefit" of almost $1,000.
Then told because I worked for a local government and have a pension of $1,800, it would be taken away.Please help! I was planning on using . . . Read More
I am 62 my DOB is 2/5/60. I f I collect now my SS NOW CAN I STILL WORK?
Hi. You can still work, but depending on how much you earn Social Security may have to withhold some or all of your benefits. In 2022, you can earn up to $19,560 without losing any benefits. However, $1 of your benefits would need to be withheld for each $2 that you earn in excess of $19,560. No matter how much you earn in 2022, though, you could be paid benefits for any month that you don't earn more than $1630 ( . . . Read More
Hi, I'm 55 and on SSDI for the last 9 years. My wife younger at 48 years old and she has always being the higher earner, been married for 13 year and we both have a work all of our lives. How can i maximize my retirement at full retirement age or if I become able to work but retire at 62? What if the wife wants to retire early also? thank you!
Hi. There are too many variables involved for me to be able to give you any specific advice. What I can tell you is that if you continue to collect Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits until your SSDI benefits . . . Read More
My Mom and Dad both received social security, over 70. Dad's was more. Mom works a little part time, but not enough to stop her SSA payments or pay taxes. Dad went to be with the Lord in 2022 and Social Security did not give her Dad's SSA payment. What they did was Jerry rig his percentage so in the end she is now ONLY receiving the equivalent of Dad's SSA payment. Her fixed-income was cut almost in half! Isn't she entitled to 100% of his payment without losing her own? Do we need a lawyer?
Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. The answer to your question is no, . . . Read More
Hi Larry! I was married for 19 years, but divorced in 2014. If I do not remarry, will I be eligible for my ex-husband's social security benefits at retirement? He remarried in 2015. I was generally a stay-at-home mom prior to the divorce, so I believe his earnings would be much higher than mine cumulatively. Thank you!
Hi. What it sounds like you might be eligible for is a divorced spousal benefit. To qualify for divorced spousal benefits on the record of a living ex-spouse you must be at least age 62, and your ex-spouse must be at least age 62 or be . . . Read More
Here is a basic question that seems incredibly difficult to find an answer to: If I collect my social security at age 62, but my spouse, the higher earner waits until 70 to collect, would the early file penalty follow me as a survivor? In other words, would I be entitled to the full amount my spouse was receiving at their death if I was the survivor, even though I filed early for my own benefit? Thanks
Hi. The basic answer is no, provided that you're at least full retirement age (FRA) when you start drawing survivor benefits. Here's how it works. If you . . . Read More
Larry, I read your article regarding "suspending" SS benefits after FRA, how the folks at SS often don't have a clue what it is and can only spout the rules regarding "withdrawing" which is for younger than FRA folks. They told me that even though I'm past my FRA I would have to pay back everything from my past 5 years of benefits! My question is, why doesn't SOMEONE, either SS, or in your posts on-line actually state that THERE IS NO PAYBACK REQUIREMENT when suspending benefits between FRA and age70?! Please let me know if I'm correct about this information as I would like to . . . Read More
My full retirement age was 66. I have been collecting SS since my full retirement for 2 yrs. I am now 68 and never stopped working and have continued to put into SS about $350.00 a month for the last 2 years. Should my SS be recalculated for each additional years I work since I continue to put back into SS?
Hi. Social Security retirement benefits are based on an average of a person's highest 35 years of Social Security covered wage-indexed earnings, so your earnings since claiming benefits would only increase your benefit rate if you've earned more than you . . . Read More
Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.