Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

Displaying 5551 - 5560 of 10063 questions.

Would My Son Qualify For A Subsidy To His SSDI?

My son works for a warehose and is a stocker. He is on ssdi because he is profoundly deaf. It is very diffucult fir him to work in customer service because if communication. Examples..door greeter, cashier, etc. Would he qualify for subsidy for ssdi. He is comfortable with stocker position, but wont ever advance further because if disability. Thank you

Hi,

The only program administered by Social Security that might be described as a subsidy would be Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In order for your son to qualify for SSI he would need to meet the . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Oct 14 2018 - 6:39am

Would My Sister's Survivor Rate Be The Same Even If She Starts Drawing Before Her Full Retirement Age?

Larry, my sister just found out her ex-husband of more than 10 years died in August. He had filed for Social Security in 2017 and was receiving a monthly benefit of about $2700. She will turn 66 on Feb. 2 of 2019. She has been told by a SS representative that she can file for a deceased divorced spousal benefit now and get payments back to his death. When she asked if she should wait until her FRA she was told it wouldn't make any difference, the payment would be the same. Is this correct? I think it lowers the monthly benefit slightly to take it before FRA, but I can't find . . . Read More

Category: Divorced Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Oct 13 2018 - 6:54am

Is It True That I Won't Get Penalized If I Work?

I am SSDI with IHSS and Food Stamps. The SS agent told me I would be 66 December 2018, and I could work and don't get penalized. What happens with my SSDI and FOOD Stamps. What'sthis thing work as much as you want now?

Hi,

Your Social Security disability benefit (SSDI) will convert to regular Social Security retirement benefits effective with the month you reach your full retirement age (FRA) of 66. Starting with that month, you could earn any amount and not lose any of your Social Security benefits.

That doesn't necessarily apply to your food . . . Read More

Category: Public Assistance Payments
Posted: Oct 12 2018 - 6:36am

Should I Apply For Railroad Benefits Or Go With Social Security?

I am vested with Railroad Retirement with 13 years of service, but quit years ago. I have paid into social security for the remainder of my career. I am filing for early retirement and am very confused as to whether to apply for my RR benefits or go with SS. I will be 62 in Dec.

Hi,

You don't necessarily need to apply for both Railroad Retirement (RR) benefits and Social Security (SS) benefits at the same time. For example, you could file for RR benefits whenever you're first eligible and allow your Social Security benefits to grow until age 70. I . . . Read More

Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: Oct 11 2018 - 11:55am

Is There Any Way For Me To Regain A Full Pension From America?

I am an American citizen, I moved to Canada when I left the US Air Force. I retired at 67 and applied for my Social Security benefits. I also qualified and paid into Canada's Old Age Pension and receive a pension. The US steals half the pension in a clawback that I and my employers paid into to qualify. Is there any way to regain a full pension from America?

Hi,

Probably not. It sounds like your U.S. Social Security retirement benefit is being reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which results in the use of a less generous benefit . . . Read More

Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Oct 11 2018 - 11:30am

Should I File And Suspend When My Wife Reaches Age 66?

I was born in 1950 and my wife in 1953, we are both working full time, and neither of us has filed for social security. Before she turns 66 next September, should I file and suspend so at 66 she can file a restricted application for spousal benefit only while both our "primary" benefits continue to grow at 8% or must I be actively receiving my primary benefit? Parenthetically, 50% of my benefit would be less than her "primary" benefit were she to apply for that. Thank you.

Hi,

It wouldn't help for you to file for and suspend your benefits because your . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Oct 11 2018 - 7:07am

Is The Federal Tax Withholding On Social Security Benefits Based On The Gross Or Net Benefit Amount?

Is monthly federal withholding tax on Social Security benefits calculated on the full benefit amount or on the amount remaining after the premium for Medicare Part B is deducted? For example, if my full benefit is $1,000 and I elect 10 percent withholding, is my monthly tax $100 ($1,000 x .10) or $86.60 ($1,000 - $134 = $866 x .10)? Many thanks.

Hi,

I'm sorry, but I can't give you a definite answer. I thought that the withholding was based on the gross amount before other deductions, but I recently received a question from another reader that . . . Read More

Category: Taxation Of Benefits
Posted: Oct 11 2018 - 6:59am

If I Continue To Work Until Age 70 Will Those Last 4 Years Be Used To Calculate My Benefit Rate?

I will be 66 (my full retirement age) in September, 2018. Upon reaching age 66 I will have only 23 years of employment that will get used to determine my social security benefit and the rest of the years are zeros. If I continue to work until age 70, will those last 4 years replace 4 zeros? Will I then have 27 years of employment that will get used to determine my social security benefit? Or do only the years of employment before full retirement age replace zeros? Thank you very much.

Hi,

Yes. Your yearly earnings can be used to calculate your Social . . . Read More

Category: Retirement Benefits
Posted: Oct 10 2018 - 9:39pm

Am I Able To Collect Death Benefits On My First Wife's Record?

my first wife died when she was 26 years old in1983
she did not have much of a work history
Am I able to collect death benefits and will that effect my ss disability payout
Thanks

Hi,

Your deceased wife would need to have had enough Social Security work credits to be insured In order for you to potentially qualify for survivor benefits on her record. If she died at age 26, though, she would only need 6 quarters of coverage to meet the insured status requirement.

However, if you're already drawing Social Security benefits . . . Read More

Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Oct 9 2018 - 5:57pm

Does SS Consider A One Time Bonus As Income To Raise My Medicare Premium?

I was paid a bonus last year that put me over the 85k base for Medicare. Does SS consider that one time bonus as part of my income to raise my Medicare to over 300.00 a month?

Hi,

All of your income is considered when determining whether or not you must pay a higher than the standard amount for Part B Medicare premiums. However, in some cases Social Security can use a more recent tax year for their determination if your income has changed for certain reasons (https://secure.ssa.gov/ . . . Read More

Category: Medicare
Posted: Oct 9 2018 - 8:41am
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