How Many Hours Can My Son Work Without Jeopardizing His Benefits?
My son was involved in a bad traffic accident in 2007 that rendered him disabled. Since then he's had 25 surgeries and is only now at a point where he wants to try and work part-time. My understanding is that he is limited to 45 hours/month without jeopardizing benefits, but what about the wage or hourly rate? Is that established, or what?
Hi,
I'm sorry to hear about your son's problems. It sounds like you must be confusing the monthly retirement test rule that applies to self-employed workers for the rules governing people who work while receiving . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Sep 5 2019 - 4:38pm
Am I Calculating My Wife's Excess Spousal Rate Correctly?
I have studied the calculation for Social Security (SS) spouse benefits and believe I understand the steps in the calculation. I am asking for your help validating my calculations. These calculations are based on an effective date of 11/01/2019 (because my spouse’s birthday is on the 1st of the month, she can file as Full Retirement Age (FRA) on 11/01/2019 per the Social Security website calculator). Here are the facts:
1. My spouse began collecting SS under her earnings at age 62. Her FRA is 66 (born 12/1/1953). Her current monthly SS is $603.60.
2. Her early . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Sep 5 2019 - 1:01pm
What Should I Know Regarding My Social Security If I'm Moving To Thailand?
I am planning to move to Thailand, to live with my granddaughter and her sweetie, in the spring.
What should I know about my social security before I finalize those plans? Is there a link to some important questions?
Hi,
Without knowing any details about your circumstances, about the only thing I can do is refer to the following Social Security publication: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf. I can tell you that if you're a U.S. citizen and are receiving Social Security benefits based . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 5 2019 - 12:55pm
What Earnings Years Can Be Used In Calculating My Benefit Rate?
When figuring out the highest 35 years for the AIME, using indexing, some of my years before I turned 22 are higher than the years now as I approach my 35 years. In researching if the income can be included, some information on SSA shows that only the years after you turn 22 are calculated in the AIME but most articles on the Internet do not specify 22 and it looks like all income earned in any year of your life can be used. Please help to clarify this as I'm sure other people are in the same circumstance of figuring out if working the last 2-3 years is worth it or not in $0 . . . Read More
Category: Retirement Benefits
Posted: Sep 5 2019 - 12:31pm
Must A Combined Family Maximum Be Used In My Case?
Must a Combined Family Maximum be used in my case, even though my spouse's and disabled adult child's amount needed from my record fit under my individual record's Family Maximum?
My PIA is $2847. My Family Maximum is $4981.
My wife's PIA is $1043. Her Family Maximum is $1565.
My DAC's SSDI amount is $291.
I believe my wife should receive $1043 on her record and $380 on my record. (Total $1423 = 1/2 of my PIA.)
I believe my DAC should receive $291 SSDI on his record and $1132 on my record. (Total $1423 = 1/2 of my PIA.)
Total paid on my . . . Read More
Category: Family Benefit Maximum
Posted: Sep 5 2019 - 11:50am
Will My Granddaughter Be Entitled To Any Benefits After I Die If I Adopt Her?
I'm a single grandparent currently receiving $1584.00 monthly I had to take early retirement SSA because I was granted custody of my granddaughter when she was 11 months. She's now 3 years 9 months.
I was told by the SSA worker who I spoke to about the application process, that I can get additional $800-$900 per month if I adopt my granddaughter. If this is true, should anything happen to me, would she be entitled to any future benefits?
Hi,
Your granddaughter can't qualify for child's benefits on your record unless a) you adopt her, or b) both . . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Sep 5 2019 - 11:32am
Will I Be Exempt From, Or Subject To, A WEP Deduction?
I have paid in my 40+ quarters of SS contributions. But, I also worked for an international organization overseas for several years without making SS contributions. I now receive a pension paid by this organization that exceeds the WEP threshold. When I file for my SS benefits, will I be exempt from, or subject, to, a WEP deduction? My pension has a non-US origin. Thank you.
Hi,
The fact that your pension is from a non-U.S. source would not exclude it from causing your benefit rate to be reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Since . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Sep 4 2019 - 7:07am
Must I Wait Until My Ex-Husband Turns 63 To Get Half Of His Benefit?
Two questions:
My ex-husband is 8 years younger than I, and I am 68. We were married 28 years. I started taking benefits when I turned 65-my benefit is minimal, as he was the main breadwinner. Is it true that I have to wait until he turns 63, and then I will get half of his benefit?
2nd question: I have a small state retirement benefit (Colorado PERA), and my SS is reduced as per the bogus "Windfall Provision". Is there any hope that that will go away? And, when I do receive his benefit, will it also be reduced per the Windfall Provision?
Hi, . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Sep 3 2019 - 6:26pm
Would It Make Sense For Me To Pay Into Social Security In The Months Before I Retire?
If you plan to retire in February of 2020, at age 66, does it make sense to pay into SS fund January or February of 2020. Self employed, so can adjust pay to achieve this. Thanks
Hi,
That depends on how high your earnings would be, and the amount of the lowest of your current top 35 wage-indexed earnings years. Your Social Security retirement benefit amount will be based on an average of your highest 35 years of wage-indexed earnings, and you can raise your benefit rate by replacing one of your previous highest 35 years with a higher year of earnings . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 3 2019 - 6:11pm
Does My Non-Earned Income Count For Social Security's Earnings Test?
I started collecting SS in Jan 2018. I turned 66 in November 2018. I went over the earnings limit.. SS sent me a letter stating they would recover the overpayment. In the letter it stated that some of my 2018 income is not counted if the income I received was earned in 2017. Income such as vacation, sick pay, bonuses, and possibly profit sharing. I had my company’s payroll department fill out SSA form 131 and I brought I into the SS office. They told me that since I’m still working I can’t deduct this income. Nowhere in the letter SS sent me does it say that. They also said . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Sep 3 2019 - 9:38am
