Ask Larry: Questions and Answers | Maximize My Social Security

Displaying 4251 - 4260 of 10063 questions.

Why Can't I Collect Both Social Security And Railroad Retirement If I Qualify For Both Benefits?

I am a retired railroader and qualified for a RR retirement annuity I also have credits to qualify for SSi retirement benefits, however there's a double dipping law that would prevent me from collecting SSi benefits without a reduction in benefits from RR retirement, however I did pay into both systems which is a law but there is also a law preventing me from collecting benefits that I contributed into. Help me understand this double standard. Respectfully Mike.

Hi Mike,

Railroad Retirement (RR) benefits consist of two tiers. Tier 1 is a substitute . . . Read More

Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: Jan 6 2020 - 10:01am

Am I Correct Or Wrong That I'll Be Below The Allowed Earnings Amount This Year?

Happy New Year to you and thank you in advance for responding to my question: I started receiving widows benefits when I turned 60 in September of 2014. First check was in November 2014. I will be 66 in September of 2020. If I'm right in assuming that my Total Gross pay less the 401K, Aflac, Dental, HSA & Optima health deductions are the pre-taxed items that come out of the gross wages, then my total Social Security wages would be around
$ 17,640. I normally lose the checks for Jan & Feb. Will I lose them this year? From what I'm reading in your answers to most of . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Jan 6 2020 - 9:54am

Did The Ex-Spouse Hack Survive The Budget Bill Of 2015?

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/can-two-divorcees-marry-continue-co...

Larry wrote this column in September 2015. Did the ex-spouse hack survive the budget bill of November 2015?

Thank you!

Hi,

Yes, that regulation has not been changed and remains in effect.

Best, Jerry

Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Jan 5 2020 - 2:09pm

How Much Time Does A Legally Entitled Heir Have To Request A Refund For A Deceased Family Member's Final Check?

How far back does a legally entitled heir have to request a refund if their family member’s final check issued for the month of their death?

Hi,

There's no set time limit for claiming a Social Security underpayment that was due to a deceased person. However, no Social Security payment is due for the month of a person's death.

To clarify, Social Security benefits are paid a month behind. For example, benefits for the month of January are paid in February. If a person dies in January, even if it's at 11:59 PM on January 31st, no payment is due . . . Read More

Category: Social Security Underpayments
Posted: Jan 5 2020 - 10:29am

When Can I Start Keeping All Of My Benefits And Still Work Full Time?

My birth date is Sept. 15, 1956 and I am collecting SS but working full time. That means that they are withholding about 6 or 7 months of benefits because I'm over the earning threshold. The year I reach full retirement I would not have to have anything withheld because the earning limit is more then i would earn anyway. But my question is; when can I start keeping all the benefits and still work full time ? If I was born on August 31st 1956 I would reach full retirement age at the very end of 2022 which (it seems) means that I wouldn't have to have anything withheld starting . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Jan 5 2020 - 9:52am

What Date Does Social Security Count As Your Divorce Date When Determining If You Were Married For 10 Years?

Hi Larry,
I married on May 30, 2010 and I have been wanting to get a divorce for years Ever since my husband started using drugs in 2016. My attorney advised me to try and stick it out to the 10 year mark so that I would be able to collect on his Social Security benefit at my retirement age. I have not worked in over 10 years and he is a very high income earner. Does SSI recognize the 10 years mark as the date that you file or the date the judge signs the disillusion of the marriage. Not sure if I should wait untill June 1, 2020 or file now. In Michigan we have 180 days . . . Read More

Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Jan 4 2020 - 2:31pm

Why Is It Taking So Long To Receive My Benefits?

I just won the appeal of my disability case in September 2019 and it's now January and I still haven't received any of my benefits. I've called and had request put in. Why could this be taking so long? Thanks

Hi,

I have no way of knowing, but if you were approved at the hearings level of appeal it's possible that Social Security could request an appeals council review of your case. That rarely happens, though, and would normally only be done if there was a clear legal error involved.

There's probably not much you can do beyond continuing to . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Jan 4 2020 - 2:16pm

How Do I Get A Social Security Card For My Adopted Granddaughter?

My granddaughter was ssued a social security card while n roster care I adopted her and never got a card for her. What do I do to get her one

Hi,

You'll need to contact Social Security and apply for a replacement card. Step by step instructions can be found on the following Social Security website: https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/.

Best, Jerry

Category: Social Security Numbers
Posted: Jan 4 2020 - 2:06pm

Does My Husband Need To Apply For Benefits Before He Reaches Age 66?

My husband will turn 66 on 1/12/20. Does he need to either file for social security or file and suspend before his birthday? He has been ill so We don’t know how long we will be able to suspend collecting. My birthday is 1/10/56. Is it possible that I will be able to file and suspend then collect spousal benefits either now or when I turn 66 +4 months?

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear that your husband has been ill. There's no need for him to apply for his Social Security benefits until he actually wants to start drawing them. He doesn't need to file for and . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jan 3 2020 - 2:45pm

Can My Wife Temporarily Stop Receiving Benefits In Order To Increase Her Future Benefits?

My wife and I both turned 66 in 2019. She started drawing benefits at 63, and I started drawing Spousal Benefits upon reaching FRA last year, intending to hold off until age 70 to draw my own benefits. According to this article in Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jlange/2019/12/26/guide-to-beating-the-new-...), the suggestion is made that she can "temporarily stop receiving benefits [and] increase the value of [her] future benefits." Is . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Jan 2 2020 - 5:29pm

Return to Ask Larry

Get What's Yours!

Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!

Find your maximized strategy
Unlimited what-ifs
Step-by-Step filing instructions
Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy

Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.

Get What's Yours—Buy Now!