Would Your Software Show What Would Happen If My Wife Filed At Age 62 And I Filed For A Spousal Benefit?
I was born 7/9/55 and my wife was born 3/27/59, and I am the higher earner I'm wondering a what if she filed for SS at age 62 and I filed for a spousal benefit (after I was at FRA) at age 66.2 how would that compare to if I filed at age 70 and my wife at FRA 66.10.
Does your software show you the comparisons ?
Thanks,
Joe
Hi Joe,
The software wouldn't show you the specific comparison you mentioned because filing for spousal benefits isn't a viable option in your case. Since you were born after January 1 1954, if you tried to file . . . Read More
Category: Maximize My Social Security Software
Posted: Jul 10 2019 - 4:41pm
Does Social Security's WEP Rule Affect Widow's Benefits?
Hi Larry. I was a teacher in California for 15 years and currently self employed, age 62. I have been collecting STRS, the teacher’s retirement since age 55. My husband, age 75, passed way 6 months ago. Does the SS WEP rule affect widow’s benefits? I plan to work at least to age 67, 70 if I remain in good health but not sure when to claim the widow’s benefits. It’s all very confusing. I have tried your software but unable to input the STRS numbers. Any advise would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
No, the Windfall . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Jul 10 2019 - 11:54am
Can I Wait Until Full Retirement Age To Claim My Social Security And Continue Receiving SSI?
I am receiving $771.00/mo. from SSI and turn 62 on 8/4/19. Social security is saying that I MUST take my retirement benefit now, rather than when I turn 66 and 6 months old. My entitlement letter says my payments are based on disability, not anything resembling 'needs-based'. I want to wait and my question is can I? Can I simply do nothing, and expect my SSI to keep coming as is, or could SocialSecurity automatically change it to the lesser early benefit of $934.00/ mo. as opposed to the $1294.00 I'll receive at 66 1/2 years old? Please respond as soon as this is read, as I am . . . Read More
Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: Jul 10 2019 - 11:29am
Are Social Security Employees Required To Give You Their Full Names?
When a representative of the Social Security administration, be they an employee or contractor, calls you to follow up on a benefit application submitted online are they required to fully identify themselves, that is, both first and last name? If they are only required to give their first name do they have an employee/contractor ID number that can be used to reference them as a source of information? Basically, it's not very useful for an applicant/beneficiary to only be able to say "I spoke on the phone with Mary from Social Security and she told me..." I have a SSA . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Jul 9 2019 - 7:29pm
Will Both Of My Pensions Count For The Windfall Elimination Provision?
Hi Larry, I am 67 and a UK national, and have resided and worked in the US since 2000 as a legal resident. I have paid social security taxes all that time. I have retired in 2019 and plan to claim social security this year.
I also have a UK government state pension (social security equivalent) as well as an annuity pension from a UK employer prior to 2000. I contributed to both through UK taxes and employer salary deductions.
Are both assessed when calculating any windfall elimination provisions.
Thank you
Hi,
Yes, it sounds as . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Jul 9 2019 - 5:54pm
Is It True That My Grandchild Doesn't Qualify For Benefits On My Husband's Record?
Larry, i have been raising my grandchildren ages 20 and 10. My husband died in May at age 60. We had custody of the 10 year old for 8 years of which my husband supported them. I am being told by social security that he would have had to adopt the 10 year old in order for him to get benefits. His parents have never contributed. Is this so because the website is vague. It states that generally the child has to had been adopted by the custodial grandparents to get benefits. I would appreciate a response as he died unexpectedly with no life insurance.
Hi,
. . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Jul 8 2019 - 2:33pm
Would Using Your Calculator Be Of Any Benefit To Us?
I am 71 years old. I already take social security. I still work. Would using your calculator be of any benefit to me now.
My wife is 60 years old. She does not have 40 quarters of work in the United States. Could she benefit from the analysis?
Hi,
Yes, the benefit calculator in our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) would enable you to determine what, if any, effect that your earnings would have on your future benefit rates. The software would also allow your wife . . . Read More
Category: Maximize My Social Security Software
Posted: Jul 7 2019 - 9:49am
Is It True That I Need To File For And Not Suspend My Benefits In Order For My Wife To Get Spousal Benefits?
I am retired and my birth date is 11/28/1953. My wife is retired, does not have enough work credits to file on her own and her birth date is 7/9/1954. I had always planned on waiting until age 70 for both of us to file for social security, but I have been told her maximum is at age 66 since she does not have enough work credits and will need to file for a spousal benefit. I have also been told that in order for he to collect at age 66 I will also need to file for social security and cannot suspend until age 70. Is this true? Will your tool answer these questions for me?
. . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Jul 7 2019 - 8:54am
What Remarks Should I Enter On My Application When I File For And Suspend My Benefits?
I will be turning 66 in September and plan to go go to the SSA Office and apply for retirement benefits and then suspend my benefits until I reach age 70. I've read your book on "Get What's Yours" and you talk about to be sure you state what you want in the remarks section. If I state in the remarks to suspend my benefits until age 70, do I need to account for the 6-month retroactive pay? I don't want to wait until 70 and because of not being clear, it is identified that I want my benefits to start at age 69.5. What should be stated in the remarks section? Thank you for your . . . Read More
Category: Filing For Benefits
Posted: Jul 7 2019 - 8:32am
Would My Husband's PIA Have Grown Since He Started Receiving Benefits?
I understand that If I file for spousal benefits at my (FRA), that I will receive 50% of my husband's full unreduced retirement age rate (PIA) even though he started drawing his benefits at 62. I know what he would have received at full retirement age 12 years ago. My question is will that amount have grown over the ensuing years (by SS COLAs or whatever)? We are both pre-1954 born.
Hi,
Yes, your husband's primary insurance amount (PIA) would have increased with every Social Security cost of living increase (COLA) that occurred after he reached age 62 . . . Read More
Category: Benefit Amount
Posted: Jul 6 2019 - 2:53pm