What Calculations Are Involved In Determining How WEP Will Affect My Wife's Benefits From My Record?
My wife, (59now),has enough credits to qualify for soc. Sec. & is now eligible to draw retirement benefits from teacher retirement. She will definitely draw the teacher retirement benefits. I’m 62 now & have not filed for soc. Sec. benefits, which will be my only retirement benefit. My soc. Sec. full retirement benefit is more that twice what my wife’s is. Her teacher retirement benefit is more than twice my soc. Sec. benefit. What are the calculations &/or social securety tables to estimate her benefits when allowing for WEP,while claiming Soc. Sec. Spousal . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Mar 5 2019 - 4:00pm
Am I Eligible For Benefits On My Deceased Ex-Spouse's Record?
I'm 58 and on disability I was married for 15 years and then divorced. she then started getting disability and now she has died can I recieve her benefits. I never remarried but she did 4times
Hi,
It sounds like you might qualify for disabled surviving divorced spousal benefits (DWB), but only if your ex-spouse's primary insurance amount (PIA) is higher than your own PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their full retirement age rate or full Social Security disability benefit (SSDI) rate, so if you know how your ex-wife's SSDI rate compared with yours, . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Mar 5 2019 - 10:23am
Will Social Security Claim My Back Pay If I'm Awarded Disability Benefits From My Teacher's Pension Plan?
Dear Larry,
Thanks in advance for your help! My concern is not listed in the topics to the left.
I am 70 years old and I collect Social Security retirement benefits. I taught for 24 years as an adjunct professor, during which time my university paid into the State Teacher's Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) instead of Social Security. Because my academic employment was often only part time, I worked other jobs that paid into Social Security.
In May 2017 I finished my last class and applied for disability through STRS. Both my claim and my appeal were denied . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Mar 5 2019 - 8:04am
Should My Husband File Now?
Hi Larry,
My husband turned 62 in October, 2018 and lost his job December 2016. He has been unsuccessful in finding a job despite diligent efforts over the last 2 years. I will turn 55 this month (March 2019). We have a developmentally disabled son age 22 (disabled before 22) who collects SSI ($534/mnth) I haven't worked in many years as I have always stayed home to care for our son. My retirement benefit at FRA would be $1051/mnth I am considering returning to the workforce but my earning potential would be little. My husband's retirement benefit at FRA would be $2886/ . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Mar 4 2019 - 4:41pm
Can I Use CRP Farm Payments To Obtain More Years Of Substantial Earnings?
I have 17 years of soc sec substantial earnings. I turn 64 in April. I retired and am drawing a public pension subject to windfall elimination. I have farmland with CRP payments of $2600 a year. Can I use the CRP payments and use the farm option method for reporting self employment income to obtain several more years of “substantial earnings” to decrease my windfall penalty percentage. I know it does not start to decrease until I have a least 3 more years of substantial earnings. Is this something I should explore? What if I start drawing soc. Sec. in 2 years. At full . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Mar 4 2019 - 9:57am
Do You Have Any Tips For Us?
After purchasing Get Whats Yours...I had my spouse, Vickie, file for S.S. in Sept 2015 . I then requested a File and Suspend on my account and began collecting Spousal support on my wife's account. In September 2019 I will be 70 years of age and intend to file for MY FULL / S.S. benefit.... I would appreciate your advice on any tips that would assist us on the plan you have guided us on... as well as Confirmation that we are on track for the best outcome.
Is it possible to have my spouse, Vickie.. collect spousal on my account and raise the S.S. Benefits even higher?? . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Mar 4 2019 - 9:44am
Am I Eligible For My Husband's Full Benefit Amount As A Widow?
My husband retired at age 70 so he could receive his full benefit plus credits. He died one year later. As his widow am I eligible for his full benefit when I reach age 66. My retirement age.
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
Yes, since your husband waited until age 70 to start drawing his benefits, you would be eligible for his full age 70 rate if you are at least full retirement age (FRA) when you start drawing widow's benefits. You wouldn't get that full amount plus your own Social Security benefits, though, just the higher of the two amounts. . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Mar 4 2019 - 9:35am
How Much Was The SSI COLA For February 2019?
What cola for ssi for february 2019
Hi,
The 2019 cost of living increase (COLA) for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is the same as the Social Security COLA, or 2.8%. That increase was added to SSI benefits starting with the payments due on January 1 2019, although those payments were issued a day early due to the holiday. There was no additional COLA increase in February 2019, nor will there be until at least January 2020.
Best, Jerry
Category: Cost Of Living Increases
Posted: Mar 4 2019 - 9:26am
Can I Continue To Work Part Time And Still Get Disability Benefits?
Thank you for answering my questions. Bet helpful and a lot I still don't know.
As I said I am on the Ticket to Work Program my question is how do I stop or get off this program and can I continue to work part time? Or do i need to see my doctor and leave my job? Also, this best way to explain to them when they come at me...cause they will
Thank you for any help you can provide.
Hi,
You can generally work and still receive Social Security disability benefits as long as you don't earn more than the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Mar 4 2019 - 9:16am
Is There Any Way That I Can Become Eligible For Disability Benefits?
I am 64, Stage 4 kidney cancer, married with 3 dependent children. My wife has MS and works forr a hi tech company making a substantial income although her health is failing and she will not be working soon.
I was told by ss that I am not eligible for disability benefits because I haven’t worked since about 1998. Prior to that I worked steadily in hi tech for 20 years making good income. I left hi tech to go to art school and graduated in 2002 where I worked as an adjunct professor at a college for a year before starting my art career. I did well at first, not makin . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Mar 3 2019 - 10:41am