Ask Larry: Questions and Answers | Maximize My Social Security

Displaying 1 - 10 of 9928 questions.

If I Die Can My Wife File For Reduced Benefits On Her Record At Age 62 And Then Apply For My Full Amount When She Turns 67?

I am 75. I delayed filing until age 70 and currently receive around the maximum benefit, $4500 per month.

My spouse is 60 and qualifies on her own work record. If I die in the next year could she file for reduced benefits on her record at 62 and then apply for survivors benefit at age 67 and get 100% of my current benefit(adjusted for cost of living)?

If I am still alive in a few years, could she also file for reduced benefits on her record at 62 and then apply for survivors benefit at age 67 and get 100% of my current benefit(adjusted for cost of living)?

. . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Mar 29 2023 - 5:39pm

Can I Still Get The 8.7% COLA If I Wait Until I Turn 70 To Apply?

I turn 68 in April, if I don't apply for social security until I turn 70 in 2025, will I still get the 8.7% increase for 2023 ?

Hi. Yes. Social Security retirement benefit rates for everyone born prior to January 2 1961 will be credited with the recent 8.7% cost of living (COLA) increase no matter when they start collecting benefits.

Best, Jerry

Category: Cost Of Living Increases
Posted: Mar 29 2023 - 5:30pm

How Will Benefits Be Affected When One Of The Children Drawing Benefits Turns 18?

Hi - father with disability is receiving SSDI $1,500, his two children are receiving $600 for both, one of the children is turning 18, how will the benefit be affected, go away? The child is not disabled and not in school. Thank you

Hi. Once a child turns age 18 they can only remain eligible for child benefits if they are either still in high school or they are disabled. So, it sounds like the child turning age 18 in your example will stop receiving benefits effective with the month they reach age 18.

However, based on the benefit amounts cited . . . Read More

Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Mar 29 2023 - 7:56am

Is It True That I Can't Collect My Deceased Husband's Benefits For More Than The Past Nine Months?

Hello, I have been receiving my SS benefits since my husband passed away in July 2020. I realized that I could be receiving more under my husband's
name. When I called the SS office; I was told I can only receive his benefits for the past 9 months instead of when he passed away. Do you know
if that is true or not? Kind Regards, Karen

Hi Karen. I'm sorry for your loss. Actually, the limit on payment of retroactive widow's benefits is 6 months prior to the date you file your application. And, if you're under full retirement age (FRA) then you . . . Read More

Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Mar 28 2023 - 1:41pm

Can I Voluntarily Give Up My Employer Health Coverage And Sign Up For Parts B & D Of Medicare With No Penalty?

I am over 70 and still employed. Both my wife and I have health benefits from my employer. She turns 65 in Dec of this year at which time she will start on Medicare, PartB and PartD. My question is can I voluntarily give up my employer health benefit In Dec and qualify for a special enrollment period so I can sign up for PartB and PartD (already on Medicare) without a penalty. I do not not want to retire in Dec, I just want to switch fully to Medicare from my qualified employer health plan.

Thanks

Hi. As long as you've been an active employee since . . . Read More

Category: Medicare
Posted: Mar 28 2023 - 10:49am

Could My Wife File A Restricted Application For Spousal Benefits On My Account?

If I retire and start collecting social security at age 70 in July of this year can my wife file born in sept of 1954 file a restricted application in order to collect spousal benefits on my account

Hi. No, your wife couldn't apply for spousal benefits without being forced to claim her own benefits at the same time. Only people born prior to January 2 1954 are allowed to file a restricted application for spousal benefits only (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/claiming. . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Mar 28 2023 - 10:42am

If Some Of My Survivor Benefits Are Withheld Due To My Earnings Will They Be Repaid In Any Way If I Later Switch To My Own Benefits?

If I am collecting survivor benefits and some are withheld due to my working, when I switch to my own benefits at or after my FRA, will the withheld benefits be repaid in any way?
I know they are if I stay on survivor benefits.
Thanks much

Hi. Benefits withheld due to the Social Security earnings test are never returned to the beneficiary in any type of a lump sum form. What happens instead is that when a person who collected reduced benefits reaches full retirement age (FRA), the reduction for age applied to their benefit rate is adjusted to . . . Read More

Category: Benefit Amount
Posted: Mar 27 2023 - 5:22pm

Will I Be Unable To Collect Widow's Benefits From My Second Husband's Social Security Since We Married Before I Reached Age 60?

i was married for 15 years, divorced and remarried at age 50. I keep reading that you forfeit survivor benefit if you remarry before age 60. I am currently married 3 yrs in my second marriage. So does this mean if I become widowed I would not get my 2nd husband survivor benefit when I turn 60.?Is that what they mean by marriage penalty if married before 60 ? My 2nd husband benefit earning is higher than my 1st husbands.

Hi. No. It sounds like you have a misunderstanding about Social Security's regulations. When you remarry prior to age 60 after divorcing . . . Read More

Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Mar 27 2023 - 3:05pm

How Long Do My Wife And I Have To Sign Up For Medicare?

I plan on filing for Social Security benefits now and telling them to start in July since I will be 70 28 July. However I am still covered under my wife's Insurance since she is still working. I do not need Medicare Part B at this time. I did sign up for Medicare Part A when I turned 65 just to be in the system. As long as my wife still continues to work and I am covered, how long do we both have to sign up for Medicare after she decides to stop working?

Hi. There is no upper age limit on when you could claim Part B of Medicare. As long as your wife . . . Read More

Category: Medicare
Posted: Mar 27 2023 - 12:20pm

Can I Collect Benefits Based On My Husband's Social Security?

Hi Larry,
My husband of 30+ years at the time of his death, passed away in 2012 at the age of 57. I was age 49. We had had 4 children together, the youngest being age 19 at the time of his father’s death. My husband was the main breadwinner and I mainly worked raising the four children while working part time odd jobs while I went to school as my first child was born when I was 19 years old. I was told after his death that I would be able to collect on my husband’s social security when he reached retirement age. I understand the laws were changed under the Obama . . . Read More

Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Mar 27 2023 - 12:03pm

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