Hi Larry,

HI, I JUST READ YOUR GREAT ARTICLE ON HOW SOC SEC SNUCK IN THE CHANGE WHICH POHIBITS PEOPLE ON DISABILTY FROM FILING AT FULL RETIREMENT AGE ON A SPOUSE OR EX SPOUSE ...AND THEN CONVERTING BACK TO ONES OWN CLAIM..THUS REAPING THE 32% INCREASE FROM 66 TO 70.THIS IS HORRIBLY DISCRIMINATING AGAINST DISABLED PEOPLE.MY QUESTION IS..IS THAT TERRIBLE LAW STILL IN PLACE?CAN I DO A RESTRICTED CLAIM AT FRA (66)..FILE ON MY EX AND CLAIM ON ME AT AGE 70?I WAS MARRIED FOR 10 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN DIVORCED FOR MANY YEARS.THANKS!CONNIE

Hi Connie,

I am 63 and retiring in March of 2019. My husband died at age of 33; 30 years ago. Do I qualify to receive any SS benefit as a widow, along with my Social Security benefit, which is greatly reduced due to my pension income being above the threshold and subject to being taxed at the SS 85% rule. Upon his death in 1988, while working, I received a family benefit/child benefit for my two children as part of his SS benefit to augment my salary due to the age of the children (18 mo and 5 years old). Thank you...

Hi,

Larry, I read your article from 2015, regarding retroactive benefits. I retired in July of 2017 at age 64. This month (January 2019) I received a lump sum of money from SS and told they were moving my retirement date from July '17 back to Jan '17, therefore reducing my benefits for the rest of my life. I went to SS to ask that they reverse their decision, so now I wait 3-4 months to hear whether or not they'll reverse. I understand from your article that one has to be beyond FRA, I was not, so they're doing this to whomever's name is pulled out of a hat.

I am 62 also have an adult disabled child (26) with SSI and my wife is 69 but she was working only 5 years therefore she didn't have social security benefit of her own. Currently, I don't have a job. My questions are: A) Can I start taking SS benefit now, so my wife can claim a spouse benefit? B) If I later (6-month or 1 year) find a job, can I suspend my benefit and my wife can continue receiving hers? C) What would you suggest for maximizing social security benefit in my situation?

Hi,

My husband retired at age 64, I am still working and plan to continue working until age 68. Am I entitled to half of my husband's benefits at my full retirement age of 66? And if I take that benefit does that in any way affect what he is currently receiving?

Hi,

Larry,
I am 67 yrs old and working. My wife just is retired and turned 66 on January 14th. We wanted to file and suspend my retirement benefits and collect spousal benefits for my wife. When we went to Social Security office, they declined for spousal benefits and told us under the new law that we are not eligible. When I visited SS Office to file before I became FRA, they told me that I could file when my wife reaches FRA. Could you please clarify if they are trying to blow us off.

Monte

Hi Monte,

Larry,
Wife born in 55. My understanding is that we are a year too late to file for her spousal then switch to her own at seventy. Is this correct? I waited 'til seventy, she is sixty three. Thank you Larry. RP

Hi,

Yes, that's correct. Since your wife was born after January 1 1954, she could never apply for spousal benefits without also filing for her own retirement benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/deemedfaq.html).

Dear Larry,

I will turn 68 near the end of March this year. My wife turns 69 in February (next month). She (b. 1950) filed for benefits at FRA in Feb 2016. She currently receives $428/mo. I (b. 1951) filed for spousal benefits at FRA in March 2017.

At my FRA in Mar 2017, I delayed retirement benefits and wrote in the remarks section: "I wish to restrict the scope of this application to spousal benefits only. I am not filing for my retirement benefit. I want my retirement benefits to start on my 70th birthday."

Dear Larry,

I turned 66 in October and my husband turned 68 in October. His Social Security benefits are almost twice what mine are. Neither of us have filed for Social Security benefits yet, but due to a change in our financial circumstances, it might be necessary. In fact, I have an appointment with SS on this coming Friday to begin the process. However, before doing so, I want to ask you a few questions first.