Is It Possible That My Husband Could Be Exempt From WEP Because He Worked & Lived In A Rural Area?
My husband's SS will be reduced due to windfall tax but he talked to a man in a grocery store who said he was exempt from the windfall tax due to having worked/lived in rural areas. Is this possible?
Hi,
No. Where a person works or lives has nothing to do with whether or not they are exempt from the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). That doesn't mean that your husband might not be exempt from WEP for a different reason, though. For more information on the WEP provision and it's exceptions, refer to the following Social Security publication: . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Oct 5 2019 - 4:13pm
What Recourse Does My Father Have From Social Security Stopping His Benefits?
My father is 91 and has worked all his life since 1955 and retired in 1985. He is currently retired oversea and around 4 months ago he received a letter that SS has been trying to reach him via phone(of course it was the incorrect number) and that if he does not contact them to verify his credentials he would loose his benefits. We talked to SS but they asked for documents(naturalization papers) which I am not sure where they are, as my father is overseas it was a bit difficult to retrieve. I went several times to Social Security to clarify this mentioning that my father has . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Oct 5 2019 - 3:58pm
Are The Current Bills In Congress Proposing Repeal Of WEP Receiving Any Momentum?
Hi Larry, I know my question only applies to 4% or less of people claiming Social Security but has major implications for us, that of course being WEP. I'm well aware that it has been loathed and berated for 35 years. My question is whether with the current raft of repeal bills (H.R 141, H.R. 3934, H.R. 4540 and possibly others) there is any more momentum than there ever was in years gone by. I'm guessing the liklihood of any bill passing is slim to none but haven't counted how many previous bills died.
Doug
Hi Doug,
Bills proposing to amend or . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Oct 5 2019 - 3:40pm
Can I Also Get My Deceased Ex's Social Security If I'm Receiving A CSRS Pension?
I am recieving a pension from csrs . I get survivor benefits from my deceased husband who was also csrs. Can I also get my deceased ex husbands social security?
They said no .
Hi,
If the only CSRS pension you receive is a survivor pension, that wouldn't interfere with your ability to draw Social Security survivor benefits if you meet the requirements (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook-0403.html). However, if you receive a CSRS pension based . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Oct 5 2019 - 3:23pm
Is My Friend Entitled To Benefits From Her Deceased Ex-Husband's Social Security?
My friend who is 63 years old divorced 20 years but had been married to this man for 18. He passed away 4 years ago. She works fulltime. Is she entitled to benefits from her ex husband's social security? She wants to continue to work. Her ss will be better then his at retirement
Hi,
Assuming that your friend is unmarried, or if she is married and married after she reached age 60, it sounds like she could potentially qualify for reduced surviving divorced spousal benefits ( . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Oct 4 2019 - 5:22pm
If I File For My Benefits Early Can I Switch To Spousal Benefits And Still Get 50% Of My Husband's FRA Amount?
My husband will be 64 in March 2020, and I will be 64 in May 2020. I am considering taking my SS April or May of 2020. If I take mine early I understand that it will be reduced. But when he takes his, at FRA (66& 4 mos.) can I then switch to spousal and still get 50% of his FRA amount, or will my spousal benefits also be reduced because I took mine early? I get different answers on this question
Hi,
No, you cannot take your own benefits early and then switch to getting a full 50% of your husband's full retirement age (FRA) rate, which is more . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Oct 4 2019 - 5:00pm
Is There Any Benefit To My Wife Filing Early When I'm Age 70?
Larry I am 68, and plan to work until 70. At 70, my projected SS benefit is $3450 p/month. My wife is 63 and her FRA is $1020 p/month. Is there any benefit to my wife filing "early" when I file at 70? Thanks.
Mark
Hi Mark,
Based on your figures, your wife would probably want to file for her benefits no later than when she reaches full retirement age (FRA). And, depending on whether or not she's working and how much she's earning she may want to consider filing for benefits now so that you could file for spousal benefits. If your wife files . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Oct 4 2019 - 4:34pm
Why Is My Payment Date Being Changed From The 4th Of The Month To The 3rd Of The Month?
I was receiving as checks on the 4th Wednesday of every month. I just received a letter from ssa that says my payment date will be changed to the 3rd of the month. What is the reason for this?
Hi,
For most people, the day of the month on which they are paid Social Security benefits depends on the day of birth of the person on whose record they receive benefits. If the worker was born in the first 10 days of a month, the beneficiary is normally paid on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. If the worker was born on the 11th through 20th day of a month, the . . . Read More
Category: Payment Dates
Posted: Oct 2 2019 - 8:29pm
Will I Be Able To Get My Deceased Husband's Social Security Benefits When I Reach Age 60?
i will turn 60 in january of 2022 i became a widow in 2008 i was told i couldn't get my husband social security because i work, and i made more then 13,000.00 a year so i wasn't entitled. when i turn 60 years old will i be able to get his social security benefits and still work i heard i should get 75% of his monthly amount which comes out to be around 800.00 a month. my yearly income now is about 32,000.00 year. thank you Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
I'm sorry for your loss.
You might be able to draw some widow's benefits when you reach age 60, but . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Oct 2 2019 - 8:20pm
What Impact Would Receiving Severance Pay Have On My SSDI Benefits?
Hi Larry, I am already on SSDI due to a stage 4 brain tumor. I have been employed the entire time but not working. My employer is offering me a severance package as part of termination. This will be fairly substantial and I am wondering what impact this will have on continued SSDI payments.
Hi,
I'm sorry to hear about your illness. I hope that whatever type of treatment you're receiving is successful.
If your employer pays you a severance payment it shouldn't have any impact on your Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits provided that you . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Oct 2 2019 - 3:14pm
