If My Wife Files For Spousal Benefits Now Will She Be Able To Collect Even Though My Benefits Are Suspended?
My wife filed and is collecting early SS benefits when she turned 62 in 2015 from her own earnings. Her spousal benefits will be greater than her own SS benefits. I filed for SS and suspended my benefits when I turned 66 in June 2020. If she files for spousal benefits now will she be able to collect those benefits now or willl her spousal benefits also be suspended until I start collecting my benefits at age 70 in 2024?
Hi. If your wife applies now, any spousal benefits for which she qualifies will be suspended for as long as your benefits are suspended. . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: May 6 2022 - 12:35pm
Am I Correct That My Benefits Should Be Recalculated?
I drew my benefits early at 62 and continued to work. I exceeded the earnings limit in 3 different years and lost my benefits. I reached FRA May of 2021 and my understanding was that at that time my benefits would be recalculated and given back to me in my monthly benefits. When I call the Social Security office about it they claim they do not know what I am talking about but it is on their website. Am I correct and if so how do I get my money back?
Hi. Yes, it sounds like you're due a benefit rate adjustment, but Social Security doesn't refund any of the . . . Read More
Category: Benefit Amount
Posted: May 6 2022 - 12:24pm
How Do I Get My Medicare Premiums Straightened Out?
Hello
I recently signed up for Social Security and my first check will be in June. I prepaid my Medicare for April, May and June but the letter I received today states my first check will have three months deducted. How do I get this straightened out.
Hi. When Social Security withholds Medicare premiums for months that a person has also paid out of pocket, then they should automatically refund the overpaid amount as soon as the duplicate payments are discovered. So, you shouldn't need to do anything in order for you to receive a refund of your . . . Read More
Category: Medicare
Posted: May 6 2022 - 12:17pm
Is There A Company That Could Monitor My Husband's Social Security Number And Alert Me When He Dies?
My husband who is 78 and lives in AZ. His son has a power of attorney both general and medical. I live in Maine. I have a life insurance policy on my husband. His son would not tell me if my husband dies. Is there a company who could monitor his Social Security number to be alerted of his death and order a death certificate?
Hi. Not the best of knowledge. The Privacy Act bars Social Security from releasing information about a person unless there is a specific exception. One common exception is if the release of information is necessary in the course of . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: May 6 2022 - 11:53am
How Should My Wife Answer These Application Questions?
Hi Larry,
Your book and articles are very helpful. My wife will reach her FRA at end of August this year and would like to start her benefits first, and then switch to spousal benefits next year when my benefits start. Watching the YouTube on filing SSA online, there are a couple of questions.
1. Under the benefits section, there is a question “Have you previously applied for Medicare, Social Security Benefits, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits? “
My wife had already started her Medicare last year, does she answer “Yes” to this question?
2. . . . Read More
Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: May 5 2022 - 6:43pm
Is There Any Downside To My Plan For Claiming Benefits?
I am trying to figure out if there is a downside to my plan, and was hoping you could help.
I am 58 years old, widowed after 10+ years of marriage to someone who was collecting Social Security Disability at the time of their death in 2015 at the age of 53. My Social Security Benefit will be much larger when I claim it. I am currently working, and make over $50,000 per year.
I plan on filing for Survivor's Social Security benefits when I turn 60, and letting the Social Security Administration know my expected salary, so no benefits will be paid as long as my salary . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: May 5 2022 - 6:10pm
Can I Draw Benefits From My First Husband's Record?
Hi Larry: I have an unusual situation. I was married for the first time for 30+ years. I am married now but getting a divorce after 20 years. Can I draw from my first husband since my second husband only receives 120.00/month. My first husband draws the maximum and has paid his full year of SS by June. We are both in our 80's. I currently receive 691.00/month which is not enough to do anything on. I have to live with my daughter because I could no longer afford to stay in my home and pay lot rent. I had a manufactured home. It is my understanding that I should be able to draw . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: May 3 2022 - 1:38pm
Is There Any Way To Transfer My Home To My Children And Keep SSI And Medicaid?
Is there any way of transfering my home to my children and keeping the medicaid insurance I have with ssi. they tell me there is a 3 year penalty
Hi. My expertise is limited to Social Security benefits. I have a better than average understanding of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, but Medicaid is administered by the individual states and I have no expertise in that program.
There are exceptions that might allow you to transfer your home to a child without losing SSI eligibility, but the rules in that regard are much too complex for me . . . Read More
Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: May 3 2022 - 12:26pm
Can I Wait Past Age 70 To Start Drawing Benefits And Get Additional Delayed Retirement Credits?
I am 67 years old and will wait to 70 years old to begin my Social Security monthly benefit payouts. Since my FRA is 66 years and 2 months, can I wait to 70 years and 2 months to get 4 full years of the SS monthly benefit payout increase or is the most I can get equal to 3 years and 10 months of increase at 70 years even.
In addition, whatever my SS monthly benefit payout ends up being, can my wife opt for 50% of my benefit payout at 70 years instead of her own at her FRA (66 years and 10 months). If she retires a little earlier than 66 years 10 months, does the . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: May 2 2022 - 5:25pm
What Will Happen If I Go Over SGA Due To An Extra Pay Period?
Hello if I’m on SSD and go over My SGA by $40 due to a month having 5 weeks what will happen?
Hi. When evaluating substantial gainful activity (SGA), Social Security goes by the amount earned in a month rather than the amount paid. So, if the only reason for going over SGA is because of an extra paid period in a month, then it probably won't affect your benefits. However, you may need to prove to Social Security how much you actually earned in the month in question, so you'll want to keep copies of your payslips and submit them to Social Security if . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: May 2 2022 - 5:15pm