Is It True That My Husband's Disability Benefits Would Convert To Regular Social Security At Age 65?
My husband begins collecting private disability insurance benefits this month at age 64 from two work policies. Our plan is to defer our respective SS retirement benefits until age 70.5 to maximize monthly benefits (I plan to work until that point). However, one of the disability insurers is requiring my husband to apply for SS disability now, which we understand will be paid to the insurer during the 4 years it is paying benefits. 1) is it true that this will effectively convert SS income benefits at age 65 and require him to forever receive the lower SS benefit, thus . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Aug 1 2019 - 11:10am
How And Where Can My Wife Apply For Social Security Benefits And Keep Her RR Retirement?
I receive Railroad retirement disability pension and my wife is getting RR Retirement. She will be 66 in January 2020. She can get $2060.00 in SS. She currently receives about $1200.00 monthly from RRR as my spouse. HOW and where do you apply for the SS benefit and keep her part of RR Retirement? With SS or the RRRB? I can find answers in various websites about getting both but none on how to do it or where?
Thanks in advance,
Daniel
Hi Daniel,
Your wife would need to apply for her Social Security (SS) benefits either by phone or in person . . . Read More
Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: Aug 1 2019 - 10:46am
Can My Wife Claim Benefits On My Account?
I began my benefits at age 62. I am 64 now. I do not work. My wife with whom I do not live has turned 62; she still is working. Can she claim benefits on my account? If so, does that reduce my benefit?
Hi,
Your wife could apply for spousal benefits on your record, but she'd only qualify for spousal benefits if 50% of your primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as much as her own PIA. A person's PIA, by the way, is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA).
. . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Jul 31 2019 - 3:21pm
How Does It Work When You File For Benefits And Keep Working?
I was planning to work until I'm 70. However, I have some friends about the same age who are continuing to work but have filed already for SS. How does that work? Should I file for SS now? I'm a little confused.
Hi,
You can file to start drawing Social Security retirement benefits any time from age 62 to age 70, and your benefit rate would vary accordingly. The earlier you file, the lower your rate. There is an earnings test (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html) . . . Read More
Category: Retirement Benefits
Posted: Jul 31 2019 - 3:12pm
How Would My Disabled Child's Survivor Rate Be Calculated?
Hi, it is surprisingly difficult to find accurate and understandable information on Survivor Benefits for Disabled Adult Children. It appears that my DAC would eventually get 75% of "something" related to my own retirement benefit. If I claim this year at age 62 instead of my Full Retirement Age (66 and a half), and take a reduced retirement benefit, is my DAC's eventual Survivor Benefit reduced accordingly? And likewise, if I wait until 70 to claim, will my DAC's eventual Survivor Benefit go up to 75% of that fully increased benefit amount? If I die at, say, age 68, before . . . Read More
Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: Jul 31 2019 - 11:13am
Will I Lose My Benefits And Medicare If I Remarry?
Hi Larry
I am concerned because I receive survivors benefits from my late husband benefits, who passed away 3 years ago and I want to remarry. I am disabled and I am 53 years old. Will I lose my benefits and if I remarry? I also receive medicare, will I lose that too?
Thank You
Hi,
Assuming that what you're receiving are disabled widow's benefits (DWB), then neither your DWB benefits nor your Medicare eligibility would be affected by a remarriage (https://www.ssa . . . Read More
Category: Disabled Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Jul 31 2019 - 11:05am
When I Die At What Age Can My Wife Start Collecting From My Record?
Hi Larry,
I am 56 years old and my wife of five years is 30. I am in excellent health and will likely live well into my 80's. My wife works and is making around $60k per year and obviously putting into the SS system. When I die at what age can my wife start to collect spousal benefits from Social Security? My salary is around 90K per year and has been for the last 10 years and should be for the next five until I retire.
Hi,
Your wife could potentially be paid widow's benefits as early as age 60, or age 50 if she becomes disabled. However, if . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Jul 31 2019 - 10:50am
Can You Cite The Code To Support That Trial Work Period Income Is Counted On The Day Earned?
I understand the Trial Work period income is counted on the day earned, not the day paid. Can you cite the code to support this?
Hi,
In the Social Security Act itself, the trial work period (TWP) is covered in section 222 (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title02/0222.htm). However, how monthly earnings are counted is not really covered there.
The Social Security amendments of 2015 allow Social Security to assume that wages were earned in the month of payment barring evidence to . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Jul 31 2019 - 10:31am
Is It Correct That My Wife Will Be Eligible For Half Of My Full Rate Even If I Retire Early?
Hi Larry,
I have been reading all your responses to various questions but none never seem to match my situations., so here goes. I am 61 years old and my wife is 64. My wife retired when she turned 62 and started to collect her social security and pension. I am planning to retire when my wife reaches her full retirement age which I believe is 66 and 2 months. We chose this because if I understand the rules at that point she would be eligible for one half of my full retirement benefit regardless of the fact that I am retiring early, Do I have this correct?
More . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Jul 31 2019 - 9:43am
Will My British Pension Affect My U.S. Social Security?
I worked in England for 18 years between the years 76 through 93. I have lived in the States as a permanent resident since and when I finally retire I will have thirty years of substantial earnings. Will my British pension effect my US social security.
Hi,
No, your U.S. Social Security benefits will not be affected by your British pension as long as you have at least 30 years of U.S. Social Security covered earnings that are considered substantial as defined in the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) regulations. The annual amounts required to be . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Jul 30 2019 - 10:59am