When Can My Wife File Her Application For Spousal Benefits?
I have GWY book and love it.
My situation is this: I am turning 70 yrs this July and am ready to file for SS. My wife will be turning 69 this summer as well (2021), and her plan is to file for SS at age 70. Due to our ages, we qualify for the grandfathered approach of the old "file and suspend", that is now the restricted application. I plan to file for the restricted application soon, so that my wife can file for spousal benefits off my claim. As I understand it, she will be able to receive spousal benefits of 50% of my FRA for 13 months until her birthday in August 2022 . . . Read More
Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: Apr 7 2021 - 5:56pm
When Will The Vote Come Up Again For Windfall Elimination?
When will vote come up again for windfall elemination
Hi. I have no idea, but I'd be very surprised if the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/wep.html) is ever repealed or substantially amended. Numerous bills proposing to amend or repeal WEP have been introduced in Congress since the law was passed in 1983, but most if not all of them died without ever receiving a full vote of Congress. The latest such bill to be introduced is H.R. . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Apr 7 2021 - 10:00am
Can You Still Receive Spousal Benefits If You Were Divorced At The Time Of Death?
Can you still receive spousal benefits after taking social security and we’re divorced at time of death?
Hi. I assume you're asking if you can receive survivor benefits from the Social Security record of a spouse from whom you were divorced at the time of death. The answer is yes, at least potentially. In order to qualify for surviving divorced spousal benefits all of the following must be true:
a) You are at least age 60, or at least age 50 and disabled; and,
b) Your marriage to the deceased must have lasted for at least 10 years; and,
. . . Read More
Category: Divorced Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Apr 7 2021 - 9:37am
Shouldn't I Have Been Entitled To The Benefits I Was Asked To Pay Back?
Larry,
I retired under poor working conditions in (June)) 2008. Before I retired I was 68 years old drawing my husbands Social Security. Thur Jun I continue to draw SS I was in a pay status drawing on my sick leave. During this time. After I retired SS Requested that I pay that 6 months back. Should I not have been entitled to that due to my being in a pay status? I have often wonder about that. At the time, the poor working conditions had taken a mental toll on me. Please answer if you can my email. As I am hearing impaired.
Hi. I'm sorry, but I don' . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Apr 6 2021 - 6:08pm
Would My Wife Get Half Of My Age 62 Rate As A Spouse?
Hey Larry,
My wife and I were in the very fortunate position to retire early last year. Both of us have earned enough credits to qualify for social security benefits. If my wife begins receiving hers at age 62 later in 2021, would she be eligible to file for and collect the difference between her lifetime monthly benefit and 50% of the benefit I will receive at age 62 in 2022? My benefit payment at age 62 is approximately 3-times the amount my wife would receive.
Thanks,
CD
Hi CD. Not exactly. Whenever your wife files for her benefits she . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Apr 6 2021 - 5:48pm
Am I Understanding The Spousal Benefit Correctly?
Hi - am I understanding the spousal benefit correctly? There's so much conflicting information.
My husband and I are both 67, and reached full retirement age in 2020. He is the higher earner, and will delay filing for Social Security until age 70. Based on the 2020 FRA maximum, I'm eligible for a spousal benefit of $1505.50. This will breakdown into my own PI of $1000, plus a spousal top up of $505.50.
If I claim my own SS benefits now, I will receive $1000, and the spousal top up of $505.50 will be delayed until my husband starts his benefits in 3 years? Is that . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Apr 6 2021 - 1:19pm
Will My Benefit Rate Be Reduced Because My Ex-Husband Is Younger Than Me?
Hi Larry, I'm ten years older than my ex-husband of twenty years and I'm starting to file for retirement benefits. I'm getting conflicting information about how much my spousal benefit should be since my ex-husband is not retirement age. Will my benefit be reduced due to my ex-husband not being at full retirement age? Thanks, Vickie
Hi Vickie. Your ex-husband's age wouldn't be a factor in determining your benefit rate as a divorced spouse, but you can't qualify for divorced spousal benefits while your ex-spouse is living unless BOTH of you are at least age . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Apr 6 2021 - 12:33pm
When Should I Apply For My Benefits?
Today is April 5, 2021. I'll be 70 years old in August 2021. If I apply this month, when will I receive my first check? Should I wait another couple of months? When should I apply for my Social Security benefits?
Hi. If you apply now you could choose to start your benefits effective with any month from October 2000 to August 2021. If you were born on any day from August 2nd 1951 through September 1st 1951, you'd want to choose August 2021 as the month to start your Social Security retirement benefits assuming that you want to receive your maximum age 70 . . . Read More
Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: Apr 6 2021 - 6:16am
Do I Qualify For Any Benefits?
Hi Larry, My husband is getting his SSDI. He got hurt and is 100% disabled. I will be 50 in August 2021, he will be 49 in July. Are there any benifets or income that I qualify for. We have been married 25 years this past December.
Hi. The only way that you could be eligible for benefits on your husband's Social Security record now is if you have a child in your care who's under age 16 or disabled and who qualifies for child benefits. Otherwise, you would need to be at least age 62 to be able to qualify for spousal benefits.
Best, Jerry
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Apr 6 2021 - 6:10am
If I'm No Longer Paying Into SS Will My Benefit Go Down Each Year Until I Reach Age 67?
I retired in 2020 at 59. Worked for 41 yrs.
1.5 mil in retirement Accts. Married, no kids and low debt.
Question: if I’m no longer paying into SS will my benefit start to reduce each year until I reach 67?
Hi. No. Social Security retirement benefits are calculated based on an average of a person's highest 35 years of Social Security covered wage-indexed earnings. And, stopping work would neither lower your future benefit rate or raise it. It would just mean that you wouldn't be able to increase your rate by replacing earlier years of lower . . . Read More
Category: Retirement Benefits
Posted: Apr 5 2021 - 11:14am
