Could I Claim Benefits Under My Ex-Husband?
Hello,
I am currenty applying for disability. I was married for 9 years and 10 months, so I do not qualify to file for benefits under the 10 year mark. However, I do have evidence that we lived together for 4 years prior to the marriage, such as the taxes and my oldest son birth certificate. We never entered into a common law agreement since in PR that is not valid. Would it be possible to provide proof and be able to claim benefits under my ex husband?
Hi,
You could apply, but assuming that your marriage ended in divorce rather than death it . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Mar 29 2019 - 7:10am
How Does Social Security Withhold Benefits If You Earn Too Much?
I am 63 (birthdate 6/30) and self-employed. My income is extremely variable, because part of it is yearly fees that bunch up in January and July and the rest is unpredictable sales but in amounts between $700 to several thousand (if I have a good month). I'm thinking of starting benefits to help smooth out living expenses. Here are the particulars:
Proposed start date: March (almost over, though)
Estimated AGI: $29,000
Estimated benefit: $2,056/month
My own estimates show this would result in either 2 or 3 months of benefits withheld. What I can't . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Mar 28 2019 - 9:15pm
Will My Benefits Be Increased When I Qualify For Spousal Benefits In The Future?
I am 59 years old, and I plan to retire from teaching when I am 65 years old. I will be subject to the WEP for my social security benefits for the non-teaching wages earned. If I claim SS benefits at any time from from now until to my full retirement age, will those benefits be increased (applying spousal benefits additions) when my wife reaches her full retirement age (she is 8 years younger than I am, and 1/2 of her SS benefits at that time will be larger than my benefits with the WEP applied.
Thank you.
Hi,
Probably not. If your Social . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Mar 28 2019 - 8:52pm
Is The Amount That You're Allowed To Earn Gross Or Net?
If I opt to collect social security at age 65 and continue to work earning the $17K exempt amount - is the $17K a gross amount or net amount? I've been looking everywhere and can't find the answer.
Thanks!
Hi,
The actual earnings test exempt amount in 2019 is $17,040, and that includes any combination of gross wages and/or net earnings from self employment (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html).
Before you decide when to apply for benefits, you should . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Mar 28 2019 - 8:47pm
How Can This Be Fair?
Larry
I retired in July at age 62 and took SS $2136. My Wife (62)did not work but applied for her part of my benefits $1056. We have a Disabled since birth, Adult daughter(28) that lives in an Adult supported living home with 24/7 supervision. She was on SSI. We received a letter shortly after my Wife received her letter confirming her $1056 saying they made a mistake because my daughter was going on SSA and she was going from her SSI amount of $700 to SSA $1085.70. So now my Wife was being reduced down to $726. How can that be fair?
Hi,
SSI ( . . . Read More
Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: Mar 28 2019 - 8:25pm
Does What My Friend Was Told By Social Security Seem To Be Correct?
I am helping my sister with claiming her widow social security benefits, and am trying to understand what her benefit eligibility is. She is currently 62 years old and is eligible for her own Social Security Benefit based on her work history. Her full retirement age is 66 years 6 months.
Her spouse died at age 64 in January 2019. He was disabled and began receiving a disability benefit 9/1/2018 of $2390 per month.
SSI has provided a projected widow benefit at her full retirement age of 66 years 6 months to be 82.5% of his disability benefit or approximately $1971 . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Mar 28 2019 - 7:25am
Is It Correct That My Friend Can't Draw Benefits On Her Second Husband's Record Because She Married Prior To A Certain Age?
Hi Larry,
A friend divorced her first husband after 10 years and remarried at 63. She divorced recently and her second marriage lasted also more than 10 years. She is currently receiving SS on the first husband and would like to apply for benefits of the second husband as the benefits will be higher. However, she was told by SS that she is ineligible to receive benefits on the second husband because "she was not of SS age when she married her second husband"... Is that correct? All information we can find online says she should be eligible.
Thank you!
. . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Mar 27 2019 - 4:07pm
Am I Allowed To Suspend My Retirement Benefits If I Started Drawing Prior To My Full Retirement Age?
I have a 2 part question. I was born 1952 (currently 67) and started taking social security at age 65, per your maximization strategy analysis. Spouse (currently 71) collected on my spousal benefit until his age 70 and then switched to his own benefit. I'm in good health and have just taken a part-time nursing job. I don't need my social security and would like to "voluntarily suspend my benefit" to accumulate "delayed credits". I have called Social Security 3 times and they tell me I can't suspend because I started taking benefits before age 66 but your book says I can? I'd . . . Read More
Category: Suspending Retirement Benefits
Posted: Mar 27 2019 - 3:46pm
How Will Our Auxiliary Benefits Be Calculated?
Hello,
My 31 adult children diasbled twin sister and I receive ssi currently $771a month since 18 years old. Our father is considering collecting retirement social security in 2019 he will be 64 in July 63 now. His pia is 2289. According to paper work cola his family maximum is $4002 based on 2919 formula. My question is what would our benefit be per month.he went to ssa office and they said the maximum benefit is $3400 not the $4002.with an auxiliary benefit being $800 a month each because he would take early retirement benefit of $1905. Then later the amount would be . . . Read More
Category: Family Benefit Maximum
Posted: Mar 27 2019 - 3:13pm
Are Survivor Benefits Increased At FRA If The Survivor Lost Benefits Due To The Earnings Test?
Hi Larry,
When you file early social security at 62 and work at the same time, you are subject to earning test. I understand the benefits forfeited are not truly lost as when a person reaches FRA, the agency will restore or adjust the lost income by increasing his or her monthly payment to make up the difference. May I ask whether this apply to someone claiming survivor benefits ??
Thanks,
Letty
Hi Letty,
The answer is yes if the survivor benefit is reduced for age. Some survivor benefits, such as benefits for children and . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Mar 27 2019 - 7:22am