Is It True That All I Get Is The $255 Death Benefit?
My husband retired at 62, received 1 SS check and died the next month. I retired at 62, had enough work in the SS system to collect SS. I also had 10 years in the state school retirement system. I thought I would be able to pick up his SS after his death but I’m told all I get is the $255 death benefit. Is all this true or is there something I ca do about this?
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
If you're receiving a state pension based on your work for a school system where your earnings were exempt from Social Security taxes, then any monthly widow . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Feb 20 2019 - 10:35am
Am I Eligible To Receive Benefits On My Deceased Parent's Record?
Hi I am new to all the SSA business. My questions are pretaining to myself who is disabled and receive SSDI and my deceased parents. I was diagnosed in my 30s but the onset of the illness was around when I was 9 years old, its MS, Multiple Sclerosis. Because no one knew what it was, I was not treated until I was diagnosed with it. However both my parents are deceased now. They both were getting their retirement benefits. I took care of and lived with them both before they passed. Am I eligible to receive their benefits as DAC ? If so, will I still be considered or eligible for . . . Read More
Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: Feb 20 2019 - 10:05am
If My Wife Waits Until Age 69 To File For Benefits Will She Get A Full 50% Spousal Benefit?
My wife is 62 and has earned enough credits to qualify for her own SS benefits, although minimal -$250 a month at 62. She hasn't applied for benefits to date.
I am 60, plan to work until 66 and 8 months and then file for my SS. I have maxed out on my SS earnings for many years and will until I retire.
If my wife never applies for her SS and waits to file for spousal benefits until I retire at 66 and 8 months (she'll be 69), will she get the full 50% spousal benefit?
If she applies for her own SS benefits now at 62 and then applies for spousal benefits when . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Feb 20 2019 - 9:30am
Is My Wife Eligible For Any Benefits?
I plan to stop working at age 68 but I will not draw on my social security until age 70. When I’m 70, my wife will be 57. She did not work much in her life to earn social security. Is she entitled to any benefits? If I die in my 70’s and she is still below 62, can she collect on my social security benefits?
Hi,
Your wife couldn't qualify for spousal benefits until she's at least age 62, unless she has a child in her care (under age 16 or disabled) who's eligible for benefits on your record. And, if she starts drawing spousal benefits prior to her . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Feb 20 2019 - 7:28am
Will My Wife And I Get Social Security Even If We Permanently Move To India?
Hi Larry, after living in USA for over two decades we plan to move back to India. My wife and I are US citizens
1. I assume we will get SS pension even if we permanently move to India, is my understanding correct?
2. Will my wife get spousal benefits as soon as I become eligible for SS benefits or does she have to wait until she reaches her FRA?
Thanks
KR
Hi KR,
Yes, since you and your wife are U.S. citizens you could both still be paid Social Security benefits if you move to India. You would of course need to be insured for . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Feb 19 2019 - 3:49pm
How Long Can You Be Divorced And Still Restart The 10 Year Marriage Clock By Remarrying?
This is NOT a software question but rather a rules questions.
How long can you be divorced before it is too late to "restart the clock" towards the 10 years necessary to qualify on the benefits of a divorced spouse? If you are married 9 years then divorced for two days then married for a year can you still get benefits? how about if divorrced for 1 month before remarying for a year ? 6 monthss then remarried for a year? When is the line that produces an irrevocable reset of the term?
Part 2:
How long do you have to be married to someone who dies before you . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Feb 19 2019 - 3:07pm
Can My Ex-Wife Get Any Of My Benefits While I'm Alive?
I am now 66 and collect SS and disability of about $2,500 per month. My ex wife is now 61 and still working likely making over $150k per year. We have been divorced for years but we never remarried. We we only married 13 years. My question is can she ever get any of my benefit while alive, can I get any of her benefit at this time, and can I remarry to make sure my benefit doesn't go to Uncle Sam in the event of my death as I have cancer. Thank you.
Hi,
I'm sorry to hear about your illness.
Your ex-wife couldn't qualify for divorced spousal . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Feb 19 2019 - 11:36am
Will My Annuity Be Cut Off When I'm Able To Claim My Social Security?
I am currently receiving my Deceased Fathers retirement benefits. Actually it's an Annuity. I'm 60 yrs old and want to know if that is going to be cut off when I am able to claim my Social Security or will it roll over?
Hi,
You can't receive Social Security benefits based on a parent's work record unless you are disabled from an impairment that became disabling prior to age 22. If you're drawing an annuity from your father's pension program or insurance policy outside of Social Security, that wouldn't affect any type of Social Security benefits for . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Feb 19 2019 - 11:28am
Will Our Benefits Increase When We Reach Retirement Age?
I am 56 and started receiving Social security disability in 2010. My husband is also 56 and started receiving Social security disability in August 2018 due to a horrific car accident. His is substantially more than mine. When we start receiving Social Security at "retirement age" (as opposed to SS disability) will either of our benefits increase? Will I then draw 50% of his? Just not sure how that may or may not work.
Thank you
Hi,
Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) are paid at the rate of the disabled person's primary insurance amount ( . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Feb 19 2019 - 11:09am
Am I Right That This Option Is Not Available To Us?
I read your book, and thought I understood what the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 meant for us. My husband was born in 1952 and I in 1957. So, he was 62 or older by January 1, 2016, but I was not. So I understand that we are not grandparented in and can no longer collect one full spousal benefit between full retirement age and age 70.
He collected early, filing effective October 2014 (I believe) as his first reduced payment of $1,735 was in November 2014. His earnings are 62% more than mine. I will be 62 next month and calculate my PIA at FRA as $1,738, with reduced at . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Feb 19 2019 - 10:50am
