If I Get Married Will I Lose My Back Pay?
I had an attorney and fought my case for 3 years I was awareded SSI and back pay for 3 years. SSI says I can not get the lump sum they will speed it into 3 payments at 3mo, 6mo and final amount 6mo so we’ll over a year free I was awarded. They paid my attorney a lump sum off the top. If I get married will I lose my back pay? I understand I may lose my current monthly benefits but unsure of the back pay owed to me.
Hi,
No, you would not forfeit any of your back pay if you get married, even if your marriage causes you to be ineligible for continuing . . . Read More
Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: Jan 2 2020 - 5:21pm
What Would My Wife's Survivor Rate Be If I Died Tomorrow?
Happy New Year. I have a RIB-LIM question . . . which I thought I understood . . . but now I'm not so sure.
I just turned 62 and my wife is 62 1/2. We both recently filed at the same time for reduced benefits -- I filed for regular retirement and as a low wage earner she filed for a spousal benefit. My FRA PIA is $1742 so I'm drawing $1270. She's drawing $633 ($408 on her own record and $225 in a spousal benefit).
Okay, so the question is, if I die tomorrow and she immediately files for a survivor benefit what would her survivor benefit be?
Under RIB-LIM 82 . . . Read More
Category: Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Jan 2 2020 - 4:03pm
Can Spousal Benefits Come Into Play In Our Case?
I am a 70 year old retired public school teacher collecting a pension and a very small social security benefit. My wife turns 65 in July, 2020 and, as a realtor, has contributed to her own social security earnings. We anticipate her benefits to be substantially greater than what I currently receive. Can “spousal benefits” come into play? Together, what are our options to maximize our benefit(s)? Thank you!
Hi,
I assume you mean that your earnings as a teacher were exempt from Social Security taxes, and that your Social Security retirement benefits are . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jan 2 2020 - 9:55am
Would It Be Worthwhile For Either My Wife Or Me To Apply For Spousal Benefits?
Hello Larry,
I have a spousal benefits question for you:
I am 69. I started collecting my SS benefits when I reached full retirement age of 66. My current monthly SS check is $1,470.
My wife is turning 62 next month. Her estimated monthly SS check at full retirement age will be around $2,300.
Would it be worthwhile for any of us two to claim spousal benefits at any point?
Thank you very much!
Hi,
Assuming that the benefit amounts listed in your question are accurate, then the answer is no. You couldn't qualify for . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Jan 1 2020 - 9:21pm
Is It True That I Can Avoid A 'Rat Hole' If I Wait Until I'm Age 66 & 9 Months To File For Benefits?
Dear Larry,
I can take my SS at FRA (66) next month but am curious about whether there's any truth to waiting until I am 66 and 9 months to avoid a "rat hole." Are these rat holes, if real, relevant for married people? I am married and my husband was born in 1953. He's still working and delaying SS until age 70 but can take a spousal benefit if I file. My SS on my own record is about $200 higher than if I take a spousal benefit on his record. I just want to make sure I should go ahead and not wait 9 months.Thank you!!
Hi,
I have no idea what you . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Dec 30 2019 - 5:54pm
How Can I Prove To Social Security That I'm Disabled?
I'm currently living on DSS from the state and have applied for SSD/SSI benefits. This will be my third time around trying to get social security benefits and each time around things only seem to get more stressful/difficult than before. The problem to me seems to be that the judges at the hearing are far from objective and they try to cherry pick any information I have in a way in which they only notice anything that may undermine my case and not anything that would show that I have problems with chronic pain/fatigue as well as behavioral health issues. The other issue to me . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Dec 30 2019 - 5:44pm
What Needs To Be Done To Get My Benefit Rate Recalculated?
Dear Larry,
I began to receive my Social Security benefit of $1652 (with a COLA increase to $1679 in 2020) when I turned 66 in June 2019 (I needed the extra money for health issues), but continue to work full time (mainly for the medical insurance) and continue to pay SS & FICA taxes. What is the process for re-figuring my benefit or am I even entitled to an increase? I hope to continue my full time employment through June of 2020 which begs the same question for my 2021 SS benefits. Sincerely, C.Z.
Hi C.Z.,
Your Social Security retirement . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Dec 30 2019 - 2:11pm
Why Did Only One Of My Children Receive An Increased Benefit Amount?
My 2 children (twins) are receiving social security payments due to their father’s disability. At the time that the payments started, there were 4 children (my two plus the dad’s two).
One of the dad’s other children turned 18. I received a letter in May 2019 indicating the benefit for only one of my children is being raised because the benefits to another person ended in June 2017.
It looks like they recalculated the benefits and determined an additional amount was due to my oldest son.
I did not receive a letter for my youngest son. Why wouldn’t my other . . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Dec 30 2019 - 1:46pm
Will My Wife's Spousal Rate Be Credited With COLA Increases?
Hi. I am waiting on receiving social security benefits until age 70 (I am currently 68). My wife is 62 and has not worked outside the home. I understand my wife will receive at her full retirement age (66+) 50% of what my social security benefits were at my full retirement age (66). My question is: is that amount locked in at what my age 66 benefit would have been if I had elected to draw at that time, or does that amount increase every year based on any COLA increases?
Thanks for the information.
Hi,
Actually, if your wife files for her spousal . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Dec 30 2019 - 9:31am
Does My Wife's Pension From The U.K. Affect Her Spousal Benefits?
My wife only worked 12 quarters in the US. She is a UK and US citizen. We met and married in London. She became a US citizen after she moved to the US with me. She is currently drawing 1/2 my benefit as a spouse. She is 71 and I am 73. Last year she filed for a UK Government pension (She worked in the UK from 1974 to 1988) and also a private pension benefit from her UK employer. The UK Government Pension she receives is about $4,500/year and the Private Employer pension about $3,000/ year. I understand that by definition the UK Government Pension is not subject to GPO but does . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Dec 30 2019 - 9:24am