Can I File For Spousal Benefits On My Husband's Disability Record Even If He's Not Yet Age 66?
I was born in January 1953 and my husband in October 1953. He has been on Social Security Disability for about 10 years. I have read your book Get What's Yours, and know about some of subsequent changes to the rules. I am planning on applying to receive spousal benefits in January when I am 66 (approx $9,000/yr) and then switching over to my own benefits at 70 (approx $40,000/yr). I believe that because my husband is on disability I can apply for benefits in January even though he will only be 65 at that point. Is that correct, or do I have to wait until he turns 66? From what . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Mar 24 2018 - 9:03pm
Can My Wife Start Claiming Her Share Of My Social Security Before I Retire?
I am 57 years old and do not plan to retire until I am 65. However, my wife is going to be 65 this year. She has been a homemaker throughout all of our marriage and his essentially gained no income of her own during our marriage. She is also a permanent resident alien. My question is this: can she and when can my wife start claiming her share of my Social Security? Can she claim that share while I am still working and until I retire? What would be the impact on my Social Security payments when I do reach 65 and retire? This is not a common scenario, but I'm sure I'm not the . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Mar 24 2018 - 9:46am
Will GPO Be A Factor In My Plan?
I withdrew from the Louisiana Teachers Retirement System and moved into the ORP in 1993. My wife and I are both at Full Retirement Age. Our plan is for her to file for her SS benefits and for me to apply for spousal benefits. I will delay receiving benefits from my ORP until age 70 1/2 which will then trigger the WEP reduction on the SS benefit I receive. Will the GPO be a factor in this plan?
Hi,
Under normal rules for the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision, spousal benefits are not subject to any GPO offset until they start receiving the . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Mar 24 2018 - 7:47am
Can My Wife File For Her Benefits At FRA And Then For Spousal Benefits When I Start Drawing?
My wife was born in 1955 and I was born in 1954. Her income is significantly less than mine and her spousal benefit will be greater than her own benefit. Under the new regulations can she file for her normal benefits at her FRA and gain the incremental spousal benefit if I defer filing until age 70? I understand that her spousal benefit would be limited to 50% of my FRA, but see a value in deferring my own SS claim.
Hi,
Yes, and if your wife's own retirement benefit rate would be less than 50% of your full retirement age rate (PIA) even if she waited . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Mar 24 2018 - 7:34am
Did Social Security Compute My Spousal Benefit Rate Correctly?
Hi, I just claim my spousal SS benefits and I believe I am not getting the amount of money I should. My personal SS benefits now is $781 and my husband’s SS benefits $2005. I claimed my spousal SS benefits 8 months before full retirement age (66) and according to SS benefits website I should receive 47.22% of my husband primary insurance amount. I was told by the SS benefits agent that I will get added $78 at my own SS benefits. Is this correct ? Thank you in advance for your reply.
Hi,
Probably. Since you filed for reduced benefits on your own . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Mar 24 2018 - 7:10am
Can I Receive Disability Benefits On My First Wife's Income?
I was married for 17 years, remarried at 50 and separated at 60. My second wife and I have not yet divorced. My first wife is older than I and already drawing Social Security. My second wife is much younger than I am. Am I able to file disability on my first wife's income if separated from my second wife? If not, would I be able to if my second wife and I actually divorced? My social security based on me alone will only be about $450, I am also disabled and receiving SSI. I turn 62 in July.
Hi,
No, you can't receive disability benefits based on a . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Mar 24 2018 - 6:52am
Can I Retire From The Railroad At Age 55 And Get Tier 1 & Tier 2 Benefits At Age 60?
Im 35 years old. I have 10 years of railroad service. Can i retire from the railroad at the age of 55 with thirty years of service, and still get tier 1 and tier 2 benefits when i turn 60? I would not find employment after turning 55 and live off of investments. If it is actually possible to do this, what kind of reduction in benefits should i expect?
Hi,
I'm sorry, but Social Security is my only area of expertise. My only familiarity with Railroad Retirement benefits is in regard to how they interrelate with Social Security benefits.
You . . . Read More
Category: Railroad Retirement Benefits
Posted: Mar 23 2018 - 11:25am
Should I Defer Taking Both My Government Pension And My SS Benefit Until Age 70?
Larry, should I defer my government pension as well as my SS benefit to age 70? I will not see an increased public pension by waiting but I want to reduce the impact of WEP. I am planning to take my government pension now, age 67, and wait until age 70 for SS. THANK YOU
Hi,
You will have decide for yourself, but I don't see any upside in delaying your government pension if it won't get any higher if you wait to take it. Your Social Security retirement benefit rate will increase by 8% per year if you wait until age 70 to start drawing it, though, even . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Mar 23 2018 - 10:36am
Will Working For Lower Wages Adversely Affect My Age 70 Benefit Rate?
I'm a single 66.5 year old, and I recently "retired" from my Information Technology career. I'm trying to hold out until age 70 to collect my Social Security benefit. According to my Social Security statement, I would collect $3232 per month if I start at age 70. I have now started working part-time doing something I love, but I'm only making about $1,000 per month.......which is a fraction my previous salary. Will these lower wages during the next 3.5 years adversely affect the Social Security benefit that I will start taking at age 70? Thank you.
Hi,
. . . Read More
Category: Retirement Benefits
Posted: Mar 23 2018 - 10:21am
Can My Wife Draw Her Social Security If It's Higher Than Her Railroad Spousal Benefit?
my wife draws half off my railroad retirement, now her social security would be more then that, can she now draw on herself
Hi,
Yes. If that's the case, though, she may be better off waiting until age 70 to file. Her Social Security retirement benefit rate would continue to grow by up to 8% per year until she reaches age 70 if she waits until then to start drawing.
Best, Jerry
Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: Mar 23 2018 - 10:13am
