Ask Larry

Spousal Benefits

Is My Husband's Pension Too High For Me To Be Able To Receive Spousal Benefits?

Hi Larry,, Both my husband and myself just turned 62 this year and we both applied for ssi, haven't received our first check yet. Since this is all new to me, I started reading about spousal benefits. My husband's ssi is much higher than mine as my work record was off and on due to children. I filed all the necessary paperwork but was denied spousal benefits because "You have monthly income of about $3,000" and it is too high for any ssi pmt in my state (PA). Is this because of my husband's pension ($3,400) after taxes?

Hi,

Posted: 
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 - 14:10

If My Wife Retires At Age 66 Would She Receive 50% Of My Monthly Benefit Rate?

I retired at age 62, not FRA of 65. I receive about $2100/ month before Medicare B is deducted. My wife will reach age 66 in December. She would receive about $680 per month based on her work experience. If she waited until age 70 she would receive about $900.
If she retires at 66, would she receive 50% of my $2100/ month benefit?
Thank you

Hi,

Posted: 
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 - 16:39

Can My Wife Receive A Full Spousal Benefit On Top Of Her French Benefit?

My wife has a French Gov't pension (SS?) from her teaching career, most of which was in the US. Some payment was also in USD and she has credits for SS in her own right. I have applied for SS benefits at age 69, and am interested if she is eligible for the full spousal benefit on top of her French benefit. She is 66 now.

Hi,

Yes, at least potentially. If the only other pension that your wife receives is a pension from a foreign government, that wouldn't have any adverse effect on her Social Security spousal benefits.

Posted: 
Saturday, August 8, 2020 - 10:41

Can My Wife File For Spousal Benefits To Increase Her Monthly Benefits?

I am 70 years old, took as benefit at 62 $1959. My wife is 59, became disable at 54. Collect disability at $985. Can my wife apply for spousal benefits to increase her monthly check?

Hi,

Your wife can apply for spousal benefits, but unless she has a child in her care who's eligible for benefits on your record she couldn't get spousal benefits at least until she reaches age 62. A person can't collect non child-in-care spousal benefits prior to age 62 even if they're disabled.

Posted: 
Wednesday, August 5, 2020 - 09:28

Is There No Way For My Wife To Get More Than $100 A Month?

My wife is 66 and a half she started drawing social security when she was 65 but only gets 100.00 a month says she didnt work enough she was born jan 26th 1954.
I just turned 62 in april I had wanted to apply for soc security then freeze it so she could draw off me which currently is 2000.00 for myself but congress changed the law i had planned on this 8 years ago so it's really frustrating that i had this planned on it then they took it just as we were going to be eligible. So there is no way for her to get more than 100.00 a month?

Hi,

Posted: 
Tuesday, August 4, 2020 - 07:49

Can You Explain My Wife's Benefits?

Hi Larry, I recently started receiving my SS at age 62. I receive $1986 a month and my wife, 63 receives, $1377. I know this doesn't look right except that we have a daughter with special needs that currently receives SSI. We applied for SSDI for my daughter and are still awaiting their decision. I expressed my concern to the person in the SS office about my wife receiving so much and she told me that my wife's SS payment would be readjusted to $1033 once my daughter was approved for SSDI and my daughter would receive the same amount as my wife.

Posted: 
Monday, August 3, 2020 - 15:41
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