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

The lady I interviewed was on the phone for Social Security told me there's no way she can look up my wife's information because I did not have a Social Security number for her we've been filing taxes together for 20 years I find it hard to believe that she couldn't help me I've been on social security for a year with a very low income $800 a month I'm wondering how I can get my ex-spouse added so I can get half of her social security

I have been collecting survivors benefits for a few years now. I turn 65 tomorrow. When I filed gif survivors benefits I was told to keep collecting it until I reach full retirement age and I’ll receive a larger monthly amount. I just read one of your articles about SSA mistaking filed some peoples for their benefits when they were receiving benefits from spouse and got cheated out of future larger payment. How do I endure something like this tied to happen to me. It seems that based upon your article there are mistakes made by SSA and not easily rectified if fixable at all.

My mother m passed away of I remember correctly it was in March of 2004. Can I cla her benefits. I'm just curious?.

I am drawing Widows benefits & I'm disabled, my husband was disabled as well He will be turning 62 in January, how do I go about switching my Widows benefits to retirement benefits for him?

Can I find out my ex husband’s benefits in order to determine what I could receive from his record?

Hi. If your ex-husband is living, Social Security can't tell you his actual benefit rate due to the Privacy Act. However, they are allowed to tell you whether or not you could qualify for divorced spousal or survivor benefits, and if so, what your approximate benefit rate would be.

Best, Jerry

Didn’t get my stimulus check don’t know what happened,please help us with this situation

Hi. I'm sorry, but I'm unable to help you with that. My expertise is limited to Social Security benefits, and stimulus payments have nothing to do with Social Security. You'll likely need to address your questions to the IRS (https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments).

Best, Jerry

I'm 80 years old. Retired 15 years ago. Have been receiving SS benefits. Notified that SSA is terminating benefits based on my family income reported to the IRS. Can they do this?

Hi. No, Social Security couldn't terminate your Social Security benefits because of your income. Social Security is not needs based, so the amount of your income couldn't adversely affect your benefits.

I asked a question Why does Social Security approve you for survival retirement Medicare benefits I do believe the doctor filled out the documents the condition was hereditary genetic and when you try to find out why are you receiving the retirement survivor Medicare but not the cash benefits does a person have to be married to receive survival retirement a person also did you receive benefits is disease

I am a permanent resident and divorced.

I need to know if i relinquish my green card and move to Ireland, will I be able to collect Social Security on my former spouse earnings at 65? I don’t have enough of my own.