I collect social security my boyfriend does not. He works. If we marry will my social security decrease

Hi,

No, assuming that you are receiving benefits based on your own work record. However, if you're receiving benefits based on someone else's record (e.g. parent, former spouse) then your benefits could terminate if you marry, depending on your age and the type of benefit that you are receiving.

Best, Jerry

I am 66 and my wife is 62. I retired on a pension in 2012 and my wife is still working but plans to retire on a pension in two more years. I have followed your advice and plan on not applying for social security benefits until age 70 but I am getting nervous about the viability of social security and legislative pressure to reduce or modify benefits, especially given the latest news that the federal deficit is projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2020. Do you feel the file-at-70 strategy is still sound?

Hi,

I am 55 and getting social security disability. I have been getting it for many years . I have gone through 20 back surgeries.lm unable to work. I have metal through outmyback and have a infection and broken rod. I receive $1,500 plus $134 for Medicare complete. I have almost no money in the bank 1-2 thousand. And the money doesn’t cover my monthly bill . Cost to live. I also have a service dog. What can I do ? I was told I can’t get Medicaid I make to much only by a little for one person. I am on a lot of medication. And in pain all the time.

Hi, my Mom receives Social Security but isn't sure if she ever asked for the widow's benefit after my dad passed away. How would we be able to find that out?

Thanks,
Kim

Hi Kim,

My husband and I are getting close to retirement. He plans on drawing next year at age 70. I just
turned 66. We own a business, and he has been taking all of the income under his name on our joint
tax return for the past several years and getting all of the social security credits. We planned on filing
for social security next year, when he will be 70 and I will be 67. Should we start diverting all of the
income from our business into my name now; so I can accumulate more income and more benefits by

My mom passed away on Feb.1. Her SS check due from January was not deposited in her account. We have filled out the form to get this last check but are being denied because we do not have birth certificate on file anywhere and no record of her baptism. Is this legal?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

Grandma died on Jan 2. SS check deposited on Jan 3 and the treasury reclaimed it 3 weeks later. SSA says she is not entitled to the payment because "if it was a paper check, she would not have been alive to endorse it". Grandma had no living spouse or children. I am her only living relative. Do I /should i go to probate court to file for executrix? If I do that, will i be subjected to her creditors ( $1000 credit card and a $80 phone bill) coming after me? I had to spend some of my own money on her final arrangements and the SS check is only for $1160.00. What do I do?

Hi, I recently read that SS can get my life-time earning and with formula can in some cases get an increase
in their Social Secruity, I'm 86 and have 70% service connected disability, I thank you in advance for any info
you may furnish me. Bernard

Hi Bernard,

On 26. December 2017, I received a letter from the Social Security Administration, via the Federal Benefits Unit at the US embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (I am currently resident in Ecuador; previously all SSA related documents were handled by the US embassy in Quito, until a notice last year stated that all SSA documents must be submitted to the FBU at the US embassy in San José, Costa Rica), in which it was stated that disability benefits would be withheld – in their totality – as a result of an overpayment of $4,768.90.

Why did I get an unexpected social security deposit to my account mid-month on March 15, 2018? I usually receive payment the 3rd day of the month. There was also a slight increase.

Hi,

There are a number of possibilities. Social Security runs many different automated processes that can result in a benefit rate adjustment and/or payment of retroactive benefits. You should get a letter from Social Security explaining the payment, but those types of letters can arrive up to 2 weeks after the electronic payment is received.

Best, Jerry