Ask Larry: Questions and Answers | Maximize My Social Security

Displaying 6521 - 6530 of 10063 questions.

Is This Statement True?

Is the following statement true?
"DD 214 Increased Social Security Benefits for Vets"

Hi,

That's possible, depending on your interpretation of the facts. Social Security granted deemed military wages (DMW) to people for periods in which they served on on active duty in the U.S. military prior to 2002. These deemed wages are then added to the veteran's actual wages when calculating their Social Security benefit rate.

The only part played by a military form DD-214 in this process is serving as proof of the dates of the veteran's active . . . Read More

Category: Deemed Military Wages
Posted: Feb 24 2018 - 10:39am

Is There A Chance That I Won't Get My Benefit Increase If I'm Getting Divorced?

Hello Larry,
I started taking my SSI benefit when I turned 66 while I was still working full time. The taxes are killing me. I want to suspend my SSI benefit and resume it later at a higher rate.
I am currently going thru a divorce. Divorce papers have been filed but not served.
Am I in danger of not having my benefit increase because of the divorce? Wife currently has a survivor payment if something happens to me. I don't think she will get any more of my SSI benefit in the divorce. She has a good pension and I don't.
Can I assume I have minimal . . . Read More

Category: Suspending Retirement Benefits
Posted: Feb 24 2018 - 10:23am

Can I Do Anything About An SSA Employee That Made A Damaging Mistake?

Can I do anything about a SSA employee making a damaging mistake by cancelling my Medicare B and 3 months later it is still not reinstated? I am handicapped with a spinal cord injury, I have 2 types of blood cancer, chronic myositis and a neck injury. I have 4 Dr.'s I need to see and can not.
Thank you for your time.
Best Regards,
Nanci

Hi Nanci,

I'm sorry to hear about the problems you are having.

If the termination of your Part B was erroneous and Social Security (SSA) is working on reinstating it, then I'm not sure if . . . Read More

Category: Medicare
Posted: Feb 24 2018 - 10:02am

Can I Collect My Deceased Husband's Social Security?

Hello Larry,
My husband passed away at age 40. I will be 62 in a few days and I am still working. Can I collect his social security? If so, will my paycheck be affected?
Thank you for all you do!

Hi,

Your paycheck won't be affected if you file for Social Security benefits, but if file for benefits and you earn more than $17,040 this year then Social Security would need to withhold $1 of your benefits for each $2 that your earnings exceed $17,040. That could result in the withholding of all of your benefits or only a portion of them . . . Read More

Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Feb 24 2018 - 9:49am

What Would Be My Best Option If I Decide To Take Benefits Early?

I am 57 and my husband is 56. I stopped working full time in 2013 and only work part time now. My husband continues to work full time. During my 35 full-time working years, my husband and I earned about the same income. He is planning on working until he is 67. If I decide to take my Social Security benefits early , what would be my best option? Should I take mine and draw off my SSI earnings at age 62? Or if I wait til I'm 63 (and my husband 62) can I take spousal benefits (or would that be considered file and suspend)? Additional information is that our estimated SSI monthly . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Feb 23 2018 - 4:44pm

Is This True?

My wife was born in 1950 and has not filed for SSA Benefits yet. I was born in 1952 and I am still working. If I understand correctly, we can do this: My wife can file for SSA Benefits on her own record. I could retire at 66, file a restricted application and begin receiving spousal benefits based on my wife's work record and allow the benefits based on my work record continue to grown until I turn 70, at which time I can file for benefits based on my record. Is this true? Second question, if the first is true, when I do file at 70, can my wife then change to receiving spousal . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Feb 23 2018 - 4:32pm

Is There An Income Limit If I Receive SSDI And Not SSI?

My questions are simple but the answer(s) are elusive online,even on the official SSA site(s).
Background info you first need is as follows;
My wife gets both SSDI and SSI. I get SSDI. Our 2 children draw a check each off my SSDI called either Disability insurance or OASI.
On 1-1-2018 we all got the 2% increase or COLA, due to the cost of living increase of 2017. On the official SSA.gov site it states clearly that, the Maximum Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment amounts increase with the cost-of-living increases that apply to Social Security . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Feb 23 2018 - 3:31pm

How Do I Get Extra Help To Increase My Retirement Benefits?

I was put on my medical disability and never finish my full Retirement Benefit, well they increase my SSA Benefits to this day.
beside I can't get my late Husband SSI benefits as Survivor benefits their was none on him so I couldn't claim that, so how do I get extra help with my increase on my retirement benefits.

Hi,

Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) are paid at the same rate as unreduced Social Security retirement benefits, unless the recipient received reduced retirement benefits prior to qualifying for SSDI. In those cases the . . . Read More

Category: Retirement Benefits
Posted: Feb 23 2018 - 10:01am

Are You Familiar With My Situation?

I am an employee of Nassau County and currently collect a NYS pension from my prior employment with the New York Police Department. I receive what is called a 211 Waiver which allows me to collect my pension while working for another NYS government municipality. I am precluded from joining the New York State and Local Retirement System due to my employment under the Section 211 of NYS Retirement and Social Security Law, and therefore not eligible to receive another pension from NYS. I was told that I may be permitted to opt out of contributing to Social Security as long as I am . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Subject To Social Security Taxes
Posted: Feb 22 2018 - 4:37pm

Will I Be Able To Benefits On My Ex-Husband's Record If I Divorce And Remarry My Current Husband?

I called SS and I'm entitled to x husbands ss benifits but I remarried and would need to get divorced from my second marriage to receive benefits from 1st marriage, can I do this and get remarried again to same husband to get the benefits,I think so I'm 65 years old and need the extra income and husband now doesn't have enough to ever receive from his, the SS office told me that. My question is do people do that ?

Hi,

The answer depends on whether your ex is still alive or not. If your ex is living and you divorced your current husband and became . . . Read More

Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Feb 22 2018 - 4:28pm

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