When I apply for benefits, what start date would I use? My birth date is the last day of the month therefore my FRA is reached on the last day of the month. Do I use my birth month as my starting month, or the following month?

Hi.

Hi Larry, after living in USA for over two decades we plan to move back to India. My wife and I are US citizens
1. I assume we will get SS pension even if we permanently move to India, is my understanding correct?
2. Will my wife get spousal benefits as soon as I become eligible for SS benefits or does she have to wait until she reaches her FRA?
Thanks
KR

Hi KR,

I am currently receiving my Deceased Fathers retirement benefits. Actually it's an Annuity. I'm 60 yrs old and want to know if that is going to be cut off when I am able to claim my Social Security or will it roll over?

Hi,

I have recently been laid off from my job. I will be able to apply for social security in June for early retirement. My check will not be deposited until my birthday Nov 2. Can I plead a hardship to get my check any earlier than Nov?

Hi,

No, there's no provision for starting Social Security benefits early due to hardship. You can't claim benefits any earlier than when you first meet all of the requirements for eligibility.

My 82 yr old mother is a recent widow, a German national with a SS# (and obviously an ex US husband). Following his death in March 2017, SS decided they didnt believe she had been in the US and demanded back payment of 150K. I successfully appealed this, and following a year of hell they retracted. However in 2018 they stopped automatically subtracting her Medicate Plan B payment ftom her SS, after 17 years with plan A & B. Then she got sick. I have packpayed her missing months of Medicare B premiums following SS's advise.

Larry hi how do I go about getting the info to receive unclaimed money that social security might owe is there a form to be filled. Please let me know.

Hi,

I have no idea what you might be referring to. If you saw an advertisement alluding to 'unclaimed money' that Social Security may owe you, I would advise you to be skeptical.

Hello! Both my Mother-in-Law and Father-in-Law immigrated in the states 8 years ago. During those time, my Mother-in-Law did not held employment and hence no SS contribution. However, my Father-in-Law found work and was contributing to SS for 5 years. 3 years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer and stopped working as he seeks treatment. He still has cancer and hasn't worked since. He is now 63. My Mother-in-Law is now 65. Both of them are now U.S. citizens. We don't know how they stand with benefits.

This is a comment...I read in one of the FAQ's that a person was unable to establish an online account at SSA.gov. This also happened to me. I tried to reach my local office to try to determine why, and was only able to leave a message and have not heard back. In the meantime, I read elsewhere that if your credit file(s) are locked (as ours are due to endless hacking), the Social Security online system rejects you.
Do you suppose this is a possible explanation for some folks?

Hi,

Will filing for spousal benefits eliminate my ability to contribute to an HSA at my place of employment?

Thank you and your team for the excellent information!

Hi,

I was divorced after 43 years. My ex is in prison for the rest of his life. He was supposed to pay me spousal support for the rest of his life. I went to court and the judge issued an order to social security for me to get his social security which is being withheld while he is in prison. Is there a law or statute that would support that. I need that support to live on.

Hi,

No. You can't garnish a benefit that isn't payable, and your ex-spouse wouldn't be eligible to be paid his benefits as long as he remains incarcerated.