Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

Displaying 4781 - 4790 of 10063 questions.

Is What I Read Correct?

You responded to Sally, regarding her ex-spousal SSN benefits denied claim at 66 while waiting to 70 to claim her own stating: ... regarding What Sally in the above example should have done is simply file for spousal benefits only instead of also filing for and suspending her own benefits. I'm not sure that is true. I've read the opposite! I've read that if you just apply for ex-spousal benefits without suspending your own that SSN will activate both at the same time lowering her lifetime benefit.

Hi,

Apparently what you read elsewhere was incorrect . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jul 22 2019 - 5:41pm

Can I Get Widow's Benefits At Age 60 If I'm Earning $35,000 A Year?

Can I get widows benefits at age 60 if I’m making 35,000 a year?

Hi,

You might be able to draw benefits for part of the year, but Social Security would need to withhold $1 of your benefits for each $2 that your earnings exceed $17640 in 2019.

For example, say Julie files for reduced widow's benefits when she turns age 60 in January 2019. Julie's reduced monthly widow's rate is $1085, but Julie is still working and plans to earn $35,000 in 2019. As a result, Social Security would need to withhold $8680 (i.e. ($35000 - $17640)/2) of Julie's . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Jul 22 2019 - 11:15am

Would A Claim Check From A Person's Home Insurance Affect Their Eligibility For Disability Benefits?

If a person receives a claim check from their home insurance for a fire or storm damage and deposits that check while getting repairs done, does that count as income and affect their disability eligibility?

Hi,

Income like that would have no bearing on a person's eligibility for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, but it could affect a person's eligibility for SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits. SSI is needs based, so any change in a person's income or resources can potentially affect their SSI payments. However, the only type of . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Jul 21 2019 - 3:03pm

Does This Sound Right?

Hi Larry, I am 60-1/2, my wife is 58-1/2 and stays home with our disabled-from-birth 29-year-old daughter who lives with us and has been receiving SSI for about the last 3 years only. I've been informed that I will be laid off next Spring of 2020 at age 61-1/2. If I were to retire at 62, I've heard from other sources (who I'm not sure of their credibility), that I would get my monthly amount at 62, my wife could get one-half of that amount immediately -- even though she wouldn't be 62 by then -- and then my daughter's monthly SSI amount could increase because of being on my . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jul 21 2019 - 7:59am

Do You Have Any Thoughts On How My Case Should Be Handled?

Hi Larry,

Just want to say thanks for your previous response to my question. I went ahead and purchased the software, and after plugging in the numbers and running the scenarios, it appears that Child-In-Care Spousal benefits are the way to go for the biggest benefit now. This will allow my retirement benefit to grow until I am age 70.

I have a new question for you. To refresh a bit, I filed an application for my retirement in November 2018 to claim at age 62. My first month of eligibility was January 2019. To date, I have received nothing. The local Social . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Jul 20 2019 - 10:19am

Will My Son And I Continue To Qualify For Benefits?

greetings ,, I have a blind disabled child since childhood and receive a benefit from my husband who was disabled since my son was a child ,,, my son received a continuity of my husband's benefit when he turned 18 years old I claimed it and I also disabled myself now that my son is an adult ,,,Well, my son is legally blind from birth and they applied the special optic bilateral atrophy law SS, they froze the right of protection for the blind of social security ,,, hey I ask you ,,my son would qualify to receive the 2 benefit of his father and mine his mother ,now,,

. . . Read More
Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: Jul 20 2019 - 9:40am

Can My Adopted Daughter Continue To Get Benefits While She's In College?

we adopted our grand daughter when she was almost 2. I filed early for social security so she could also get social security it stopped at 18. is it possible to get it for her if she is in college/?

Hi,

No. The only way that your daughter could continue to receive child's benefits after she's age 18 and out of high school is if she's disabled.

Best, Jerry

Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Jul 20 2019 - 9:36am

Am I Eligible To Take Widow's Benefits At Age 60?

Hi Larry my estranged husband was on SSD and getting 1700 a month and passed away 3 years ago. i have not remarried. At that time i was told i could receive widows benefit at 60 for 1600. Am I eligible to take widows benefits at 60? will it be reduced be cause of his SSD can I file and not touch my own SS until i'm at FRA or later? or will i be viewed as deeming and reduce my own benefit?

Hi,

Yes, as long as you were married to your husband for at least 9 months and not divorced then it sounds like you'd be eligible for widow's benefits as early as . . . Read More

Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Jul 19 2019 - 4:45pm

How Would My Getting A Portion Of My Ex's Military Retirement Affect What I Receive From Social Security?

Dear Larry, My DOB is 12/54. My understanding is that I can collect Full benefits at 66. I can collect partial at age 65...but with limits on earned income. I am divorced and will be able to collect spousal benefits at some point ..Per the divorce I receive a portion of his military retirement. How will this effect what I receive from social security?

Hi,

Nothing that you get from the military or VA would have any impact on either your own Social Security retirement benefits or divorced spousal benefits.

It sounds like your understanding of . . . Read More

Category: Veterans Benefits
Posted: Jul 19 2019 - 4:33pm

Do I Have To File For SSI Now That I'm 62?

I am on disability ssd since 1999 i turned 62 in may 2019 do i have to file for ssi or do i have to wait till i am 66 years old i was told that ss just rolls it over to retirement i did recive both in 1999 but got married an ssi was taken from me in 2006

Hi,

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs based program. Your age is irrelevant as long as you're disabled, but people can qualify for SSI at age 65 or older even if they aren't disabled. Either way, though, you would need to meet the income and resource limits for SSI in order to qualify . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Jul 19 2019 - 4:23pm
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