Larry, How much does the average American contribute to social security (taxes) throughout their working life? I saw an old article from CNN in 2013 that referenced $808,000. Is this correct?

Hi. An employee earning the average national wage amount would have paid $76,853.05 in Social Security taxes over the 40 year period from 1980 through 2019. So, even if you double that to include the employer's share of payroll taxes, the actual amount of Social Security taxes paid by the average American is a small fraction of the amount you mention.

Would Social Security benefits be taken away from a husband that has to go to a nursing home or assisted living? Something I just recently heard, and was concerned, to say the least. Thank you for any info.

My husband get SSI
I'm not working
Can I get his SSI

Hi. First off, I don't know if you mean that your husband receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Social Security benefits. If your husband receives SSI, then the only way that you could get SSI is if you meet the SSI eligibility requirements yourself. SSI is a needs based benefit, and the requirements for SSI eligibility can be found on the following Social Security website: https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/.

If I get a settlement from a class action suit from a company I never worked for, do I have to report it to ssdi and ssi?

Hi. Yes, if you're getting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) then you should definitely report to Social Security if you receive a settlement payment. A settlement like you describe wouldn't affect your Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, but it might affect your SSI eligibility or your payment amount. SSI is a needs based benefit, so just about any new income or assets you receive can potentially affect your SSI benefits.

My wife is taking ss at 62 $960/m and i am 80 and getting 2057/m. Is there a way to get more because of our age difference?

I’m a widow. At age 60 I started collecting widow benefits. I turned 65 this past December. I called and switched over to my own because it was more. The very next day I called back because I realized if I would wait until 66 and 2 months, I would get 220.00 more a month. So they told me I could do a withdraw by filling out a 521. I did just that. Now I just got bill in mail 3 months later to pay back all monies I got for last 3 months. I understand that.

I have been reading about social security benefits for veterans and benefits for getting a portion of my wife's benefits after she has passed. Anything I should investigate?

Hi. Veterans can qualify for Social Security benefits just like anyone else can by paying Social Security taxes on their earnings. You must have a minimum of 40 quarters of coverage (QC), or roughly the equivalent of 10 years of Social Security covered earnings, to potentially qualify for Social Security retirement benefits.

Dear Larry, my husband is approaching 60 and Social Security has been weighing on his mind. What he is thinking about is pulling his social security and then what ever that amount is take his paycheck and have equally amount put in his 401k pre tax. I am trying to get him to wait till he is 65 or 67 he is afraid of waiting to long to take that advantage. Can he legally do this and if so when should he start. I am going to have him sign up for your maximize my social security program. Thank you Terrilynn

I am a dual citizen American/Cdn and moved to the U.S. in 2006 when I married my American husband. My husband started receiving his social security when he turned 70 last year. I receive CPP and have never worked in the U.S. I had planned to collect social security (on my husband's work record) upon my full retirement age (66 and 4 months) next year. Thank you for answering these questions:

I am a Canadian and USA citizen married and living in Canada for 30 years. I did not file USA tax return because I didn’t think I had to. I worked in USA before moving to Canada. Am I eligible for Social Security benefits? Thanks