Ask Larry

Miscellaneous

Can My Mother Get Both VA Benefits And Her Social Security Benefits?

My mother is collecting my father's VA benefits right now as he passed away 4 years ago. She will reach 66 this year and she wants to retire. Will she still be able to receive the VA benefits from my father and still receive her social security when she retires? She is under the impression she will only get one or the other...

Thanks

Hi,

Posted: 
Saturday, August 12, 2017 - 08:41

Can You Help Us?

Hi Larry I am my fathers caretaker and had his social security checks deposited into my business account and now they have discontinued his payments saying that I he owns my business but he doesn't what am I to do we have sent documents showing that that's false please help

Hi,

Posted: 
Wednesday, August 9, 2017 - 14:21

Were We Wrong To Ask For A Benefit Estimate At Our Social Security Office?

My spouse collects spousal social security on my record, thanks to Larry's advice. Because he is nearing 70, we visited our local office to get an estimate of benefits on his own record. We were told that we should get that information from his "my social security" account. We explained that we had tried that, but couldn't get it that way, the system seemingly won't provide the estimates because he is already receiving a benefit. The representative insisted we were wrong, and said we should give our password so he could log on to our "my social security," so he could prove it.

What Can I Do If I Have A Problem With Social Security?

Social security did not give me my delayed benefits at age 70 I had done a withdrawal what can I do to get them

Hi,

I don't know enough about your circumstances to give you a specific answer, but normally you would start by contacting Social Security and if the person you initially speak with doesn't give you a satisfactory explanation you can ask to speak with a technical expert or supervisor. If you are still dissatisfied after that, you can contact the offices of one of your U.S. Senators or your Congressional representative.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Wednesday, August 9, 2017 - 11:47

Can Social Security Reclaim Funds From A Bank Account?

Someone I know has just received a notice from Social Security regarding her deceased sister in laws benefits that were kept in a bank account. Her husband died about 10 months before his sister . There was a bank account with around 15,000 in the bank. When her sister-in law died, her bank sent the last check back to SSA. The problem is SSA wants all of the money that was in the bank back. It went to the conservator who was the deceased sister in law. Can SSA do this, if so why?

Hi,

Posted: 
Tuesday, August 8, 2017 - 07:27

Is There Anything We Can Do To Maximize Our Benefits?

Hi. I just started reading your great advise. My husband is 72 in Sept and i will be 70 in Sept. I filed for SS early, age 62. I think he filed age 64. We both have medicare A and B . is there any way we can maximize our SS income? I also don't know what Deeming means or whether it even applies to us. Thanks for any advise
Petra

Hi Petra,

Posted: 
Tuesday, August 8, 2017 - 06:52

Will My Social Security Benefits Be Reduced If I Receive A Survivor Pension Based On My Ex-Husband's Work?

I received survivors benefits from my late exhusband o pension from local police dept. Can I collect my OWN social security with no reductions

Hi,

Your receipt of survivor benefits from your ex-husband's police pension program would have no effect on any type of Social Security benefits for which you are eligible. You may want to consider using the maximization software available on this website to determine your best claiming strategy for Social Security.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Wednesday, August 2, 2017 - 09:52

If I Earn Extra Income Do I Need To Report It To Social Security?

I will be 66 in 4 months. I am on disability and have also filed for my ex husband's death benefits. If I earn extra income, do I have to report it to SS?

Hi,

If you only receive Social Security benefits, you wouldn't need to report changes in your income starting with the month you reach full retirement age (i.e. age 66 in your case).

Posted: 
Monday, July 31, 2017 - 17:21

Can My Brother Receive Social Security And A Pension From His Employer?

Hi Larry, I am a SHINE councilor and counseling my brother who is retiring in Oct. on the options within Medicare. Additionally I want to know if he can collect SS benefits, he is retiring from Keolis (BOSTON's MBTA commuter line service contractor), he states that he will receive a pension and does not think he can also receive SS benefits. I do not agree, since Keolis is not a railroad per say I would think he can receive both. What is you thoughts.

Rich

Hi Rich,

Posted: 
Sunday, July 30, 2017 - 07:15
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.