Does This Sound Correct?
Hi Larry, I’ve read your book and have used your software - -thanks for both! My question has to do with the family maximum benefit and the benefit for a parent caring for an adult disabled child. I have enough credits to file for SS benefits but my spouse does not, and we care for an adult severely disabled child (who now gets SSI). If I file at 62, and my spouse (who will be 59) and child also file then, based on my earning’s record, my understanding is that my daughter and spouse would each receive a benefit equal to 50% of my PIA. My SSA statement says my PIA @ FRA is $2972 . . . Read More
Category: Family Benefit Maximum
Posted: Jun 18 2018 - 4:05pm
Can I File On My Husband's Record At Age 60 And Continue To Work?
I am currently a 50 year old widow, and my husband passed away at 56 (last year). He recieved disablility confiration right before he passed away from cancer, so we never collected any money. We have always been a two income family (with me earning slightly more than my husband the last several years). Our child is 25 and lives at home while going to school full time for a master's degree. I was shocked to find out that I am not eligible to received any money from Social Security except filing widow's SS benifits at the age of 60 under my husband and not filing for my own until . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Jun 18 2018 - 3:47pm
Can My Husband File For Half Of My Benefits At His FRA And Switch To His Own Benefits At Age 70?
Hi Larry:
I'm 67 receiving SS. My husband is 63 still working his FRA is at 66 born after January 1st, 1954. Can my husband apply for half of mine at his FRA and stay working until 70 then suspend and file for his. What other options are available ? Thanks.
Hi,
No. Since your husband was born after January 1 1954, he'll be deemed to be filing for both his own retirement benefits and spousal benefits whenever he files for either one. And, he'll just receive essentially the higher of the 2 benefit rates, which would be reduced for age if he . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jun 18 2018 - 3:34pm
Should My Husband File For Spoual Benefits Or Early SS While Waiting For A Decision On His SSDI Claim?
I am 66 my husband is 63. I have applied and will be receiving full SS in July this year. I am the lower income spouse. My husband has applied for SSDI and was told he could apply for early SS while waiting for a decision on his SSDI (which is at 2nd stage). He is 100% disabled US Veteran. Should he apply to take spousal benefits while waiting for decision on SSDI or should he reply for early SS? He plans to apply now for SS to start when he is 63 in Sept. What will happen once (if) he is approved for SSDI will he automatically go on SSDI? Thank you.
Hi, . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jun 18 2018 - 9:20am
How Will My Doctor's Misdiagnosis Affect My Disability Outcome?
What if my Dr., who I have been seeing for years, has been misdiagnosing and prescribing me the wrong meds, making my condition worse, and me even more disabled. How will this affect my disability outcome? I have done a lot of research and I know it is based on your functional capacity to work at that point in time, which I do not have, but what if the judge thinks my condition might get better if I am no longer on that medication? Because schizophrenia is a condition that may get better but will never truly go away.
Hi,
Whether or not a person is . . . Read More
Category: Disability
Posted: Jun 18 2018 - 7:38am
Why Does The Amount Of My Social Security Keep Changing?
I found out about the WEP and the other one AFTER I retired from the Clark County School District in henderson, NV. Once I got over my rage and realized it was a law that I could do nothing about I resigned myself to a much, much lower monthly payment. My question to you is why does the amount of my SS keep changing. I always get two letters telling me that they overpaid me and I owe them such and such an amount I have mailed them a statement from PERS everytime my pension increases (a big $2- $20) I Just received two more letters a few days ago. I wish there was a lawyer who . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Jun 18 2018 - 7:18am
Does Anyone Know When Social Security Will Do Recalculations For DRCs?
Delay of Delayed Retirement Credits
I understand that for those starting SS benefits between PIA and age 70, DRCs are only initially applied as of the end of the previous year (unless benefits start in January), and full DRCs apply starting the following January. Given that it is believed SSA only does the DRC recalculation every TWO years, does anyone know if the next recalculation is due in January of 2019, or January of 2020?
Thanks!
Hi,
I don't think that Social Security releases those schedules to the public. However, those types . . . Read More
Category: Delayed Retirement Credits
Posted: Jun 18 2018 - 7:01am
If My Wife Files For Her Benefits Early Can We Be Certain That She Could Still Get My Full Rate As A Widow?
I started collecting SS at 62 because we had high school aged children which basically doubled my benefit. I am now 72 and my monthly benefit is about $2000. My wife, who worked until we had children, will be 62 in January and is eligible for a monthly benefit of about $850, which would increase to about $1,100 if she waits until she is 66.5. Our intention is for her to start taking her $850 a month in January when she turns 62. Our question is: Can we be certain that this will not preclude her from getting my $2000 a month in survival spousal benefits upon my death, once she . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Jun 17 2018 - 5:01pm
If My Wife Files For Her Own Benefits Now Is She Still Eligible To Take Spoual Benefits Later?
I am 59 (born 1/59) and my wife is 64 (born 2/54). Her SS benefit is very small because she has mostly been out of the workforce. We will need to maximize our monthly benefit in retirement. I plan to work to 70, health permitting, in order to do maximize my benefit. If she files for her benefit now, is she still eligible to take her spousal benefit when I retire? If she waits 19 months until her FRA, how does it affect her spousal benefit when I retire?
Hi,
If your wife files for reduced benefits on her own record now, she could still potentially file . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jun 17 2018 - 4:39pm
Should I Switch From Disability To Regular Social Secuirity At Age 62?
I am currently receiving disability pay from SSD. I am age 61 and married to my 65 year old husband. He is currently drawing his social security. When I turn 62, should I change my benefits to early social security vice disability pay?
Hi,
Almost certainly not. In theory you could switch from disability (SSDI) to retirement benefits at age 62, but that would just reduce your benefit rate by roughly 30% unless your SSDI is being reduced due to the receipt of workers compensation or a public disability benefit. Furthermore, switching from SSDI to . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Jun 17 2018 - 7:42am
