Is My Boyfriend Telling The Truth When He Claims That He'll Get More In Benefits If We Don't Get Married?
My boyfriend of 12 years doesn't want to marry me because he claims he will make more in social security payments as a single person. Is this factual or an avoidance tactic?
Hi. Well, it could be true depending on the type of benefit he receives. Getting married would have no adverse affect on any Social Security benefit that your boyfriend receives that's based on his own work history, but if he collects benefits on a the Social Security record of a parent or former spouse then getting married could cause his benefits to stop. Certain types of auxiliary . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Apr 5 2021 - 10:59am
Is It True That You Can't Buy Another Home If You're On Disability?
My husband and i are home owners, we want to sell and buy another home, is it true if you are on disability you cant buy another home?
Hi. No, that's not true. Selling your home and/or buying a new one wouldn't have any effect at all on any type of Social Security benefit, including disability benefits. Social Security does administer a needs based program called Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and selling or buying home can potentially affect those benefits. But, I assume that's not what you're referring to.
Best, Jerry
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Apr 5 2021 - 10:53am
How Much Will My Son Receive When His Half Sister Turns 18?
My son is going on 15yrs old.. he has a half sister that will be 18 this month. They both receive $820 a month for survivor payments. Once his sister turns 18 , how much will my son then receive?
Thank you
Hi. Your son's benefit rate will stay the same if he and his half sister are the only people collecting survivor benefits from their deceased parent's record. Surviving children are each eligible for up to 75% of the deceased parent's primary insurance amount (PIA), and their benefit rate would only be lower than that if paying them their full rate . . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Apr 5 2021 - 9:23am
What Are Your Thoughts On Social Security's Future?
Politicians and financial advisers all state to not worry about Social Security failing. That Congress will intervene and save SS. However, I am 59 and am deeply troubled that SS will not exist in “any form” for me to rely on it. I have no pension. So feel that I must save fully to ensure my retirement to age 95. Very daunting with low rates.
Washington has become so dysfunctional. I simply do not known if it remains the third rail of government that can’t be touched. . I am concerned it could be allowed to fail (not just a 25% cut as some stress as a worse case scenario . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Apr 4 2021 - 5:46pm
Why Would Social Security Ask Me To Return My Son's Social Security Funds?
Hello.
My husband passed in December of this past year. Our four children are receiving survivor benefits. My oldest graduates in May, and I received a letter as did he that his checks will go to him directly vs. my bank account for the next two months and then will stop upon graduation.
One letter said I needed to send funds back to SS. I’m very confused about that.
Also, when this payment stops, will the amount received by my other three children go up? And do I need to do anything to make sure this happens correctly and in a timely manner ?
I do not . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Apr 4 2021 - 4:00pm
Will My Wife's Spousal Benefits Automatically Change To Her Own Benefits At Age 70?
Will my wife's spousal benefits automatically change to full benefits at age 70 or does she need to contact social security in advance?
Hi. No, your wife can't be paid her own benefits until she applies for them. The only way that your wife could be collecting just spousal benefits only is if a) she was born prior to January 2 1954, b) she filed for spousal benefits at her full retirement age (FRA) or later, and c) she restricted her application for spousal benefits to exclude her own benefits from the scope of her application. Therefore, since your wife . . . Read More
Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: Apr 3 2021 - 3:48pm
Can A Person File For Their Own Benefits At Age 62 And Suspend Them At Age 64 To Draw Widow's Benefits?
Hello,
Suppose higher-earning spouse Hi and lower-earning spouse Lo live with their disabled adult child DAC. Lo decides to take retirement benefits at age 62 while Hi wants to wait until 70. But now Hi passes away early, before claiming, while Lo is only 64.
Lo wants to wait until 67 to claim unreduced Widow/Widower benefits. Can Lo's own retirement benefit be suspended while Lo takes Child-in-Care benefits off of Hi's work record (assuming they're higher than Lo's own reduced retirement benefit)? And when Lo reaches 67, does Lo have to re-activate retirement . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Apr 3 2021 - 7:51am
Is There A Lawyer Who Could Help Me Sort Our My Benefit Options?
I lost my husband in 1987. I’m now 62 and still working. Should I file for my social security now and switch over to the widow benefits at my full retirement age? My husband was the main wage earner. I have been trying to get a lawyer to help me sort this all out, is there such a person? Thank you for your time. Judy
Hi Judy. I'm sorry for your loss. Virtually all of the attorneys who specialize in Social Security law concentrate on disability benefits. It shouldn't be necessary for you to have an attorney to determine your best plan for claiming Social . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Apr 3 2021 - 7:36am
If I Retire At Age 60 What Percentage Of My Ex-Spouse's SS Can I Receive Monthly?
I'm a surviving divorced spouse my ex husband was 62 when he passed and on disability he was drawing 1400 a month ssdi. If I retire at 60 what percentage can I recieve monthly. Any other pros and cons you could tell me would be helpful.
Hi. Eligible widows and surviving divorced spouses who start drawing benefits at age 60 are paid 71.5% of their deceased former spouse's primary insurance amount (PIA). A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA), or their full . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Apr 2 2021 - 1:23pm
How Does Social Security Pay Child Benefits When Both Of Their Parents Are Getting Benefits?
Hi Larry myself and my husband are separated but we both receive Social Security disability and my children were receiving a benefit from me of 160 and a benefit from their father of nine hundred and something. I called Social Security several times in the past year and a half actually and told them that they were getting both benefits under me and I didn’t know if it was legit that they did and the gentleman that I talk to said it was a good thing that I called and that they would document n that he wasn’t sure he would have somebody call me back and nobody ever called me back . . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Apr 2 2021 - 10:07am
