Will My Wife Be Deemed To Be Filing For Benefits On Her Own Record If She Files For Spousal Benefits At Age 66?
My wife is drawing ss from Switzerland as a result of her working and living there for 20+ years (Swiss citizen). She has also worked in the US and paid FICA in 7 years since she came to the US. In only 3 years did she earn more than 10k$ (some of the other 4 years was 200$ and one was 2k$). If she applies at her age 66 for spousal benefits on my record when I begin to draw my age 66 FRA benefit, will she be be "deemed" using both her US work record and her spousal application on my work record in determining her spousal benefit or will she simply get 50% of my benefit? I . . . Read More
Category: Foreign Pensions
Posted: Sep 2 2018 - 10:27am
When Should My Friend Switch From SSDI To Survivor Benefits?
My friend is on SSDI and is 62 years old. Her husband is deceased and would be 69 years of age, if alive. At what point would she switch from SSDI and begin taking her spousal benefit?
thanks
Hi,
If your friend is receiving Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) and would qualify for a higher survivor benefit rate, it would almost certainly be advantageous for her to file for her survivor benefits as soon as possible. She wouldn't actually be switching from SSDI to survivor benefits, though. Instead, she would be paid an excess survivor . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Sep 1 2018 - 9:19pm
Am I Correct That My Wife Couldn't Start Receiving Spousal Benefits Until I Start Drawing My Benefits?
Today is 9-1-18. My 66th FRA birthday is in 3.5 months (12-16-18). My wife does not have/will never have enough work credits to draw a benefit on her own work record in the U.S. Her 67th birthday is 10-17-18. We have no children. My monthly benefit per SS at FRA is 2,750$/month. If I postpone filing until I'm 70, then between the two of us we are not collecting 2,750 + 50% of 2,750 for 4 years or about 198,000$ (ignoring both cola increases and inflation). After reading your book (thank you very much for the effort) several times and many sections more times than that, I . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Sep 1 2018 - 3:37pm
Should I File Sooner In Order To Qualify For The 'Hold Harmless' Provision?
Hi Larry,
I did a file & suspend at age 66 so my wife could collect spouse benefits. I turn 70 in April 2019. My plan was to file for my benefit effective January 2019 with 45 months of delayed retirement credits at 130% of my PIA. In the meantime I read where the SS cola is estimated to be about 2.7% which also make my medicare premiums jump up. My question is: Would I be better off filing for my SS benefit effective in December 2019 with 44 months of delayed retirement credits at 129.3% of PIA to be “held harmless” or stick to my plan to file effective January 2019 . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Aug 31 2018 - 4:34pm
Why Would Getting Married Affect My Girlfriend's Social Security?
My girlfriend and I want to get married. She receives some type of social security. She divorced. Her ex-husband passed away when her daughter was 11. Her daughter received SSI and now as an adult received SSI disability. My girlfriend also receives a monthly check we assume for caring for her daughter who will never be able to live alone. She was told if she was to get married she would lose the check receives. Her daughter does work a part-time job but is unable to drive etc... which means my girlfriend has to be available to always provide transportation as we do not have . . . Read More
Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Aug 31 2018 - 10:21am
Do I Have To Apply For Social Security If I'm Getting Social Security Disability Benefits?
I'm on SSDD and I will be 65 in Feb. I had to retire early do to my disability at age 52. I took an offset to social security. Do I have to apply for social security at 65 or can I delay to I'm 66-68 or 70. How would that effect my retirement ? Also when I did get ssdd I was told I would have to apply for ss at age 65 and ss would give me the higher amount which probably would be ssdd.
Hi,
I'm assuming by SSDD you're referring to Social Security disability benefits (SSDI). Your SSDI will automatically convert to regular Social Security retirement . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Aug 31 2018 - 9:56am
How Can We Read Older Posts?
How can we read older posts?
Hi,
There are 2 options. At the bottom of the list of answers on the opening page there is a 'Next' button that will page you back to prior Q & A's. Or, you can find categorized lists of prior Q & A's by clicking the Ask Larry topic links on the left side of the this page.
Best, Jerry
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Aug 31 2018 - 9:46am
Can A Remarried Widow Collect A Spousal Benefit At Age 62 And Switch To Widow's Benefits At FRA?
My question concerns filing strategies for a remarried widow. The widow is 60 years old and will get remarried at age 61. Her plan had been to file on her own record at age 62 and switch to her deceased husband's benefits at FRA (his benefit is about triple her benefit). Her new husband is already collecting benefits, and his FRA benefit is more than twice her benefit. Can she collect a spousal at age 62 based on her new husband's benefit, and then switch to the widow benefit at FRA? Thank you.
Hi,
Yes. Assuming that the woman in question has been . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Aug 30 2018 - 4:21pm
Is It Correct That There Would Be No Advantage To Filing For Widow's Benefits Until I Stop Working?
My husband who had taken early retirement died last year. I just turned 60 and work full time so would lose widow benefits to the earnings test. I make more than my husband did and will take my retirement at 70. SSA tells me there is no advantage to filing for widow benefits until I stop working. I plan to quit at 65. Are they correct? I read our example about Glenn Loury in your book and it implies I should file now even if i don’t get anything. Thank you
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
The answer to your question depends on how much you are . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Aug 30 2018 - 6:50am
Is There Anything I Should Be Alerted To Before Making An Appointment To Correct My Earnings History?
I am single, and will be 66 in Nov. I am currently unemployed and living off savings. I recently reviewed my Lifetime Earnings report and discovered my earnings in 1983 were $24,500 but reported as $0. I have my W-2 tax records to prove this. Is there anything i should be alerted to before i make an appointment to have this corrected? Will they automatically index those missing earnings from 1983? I want to make sure i get all the credit i can. I've never been married and have only my earnings to count on. Also what documentation should i request? Thank you.
. . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Aug 30 2018 - 6:34am