Can My Wife Switch Over To Get Half Of My Full Retirement Age Rate When She Reaches FRA?
Larry,
First of all thanks for all you do for everyone.
My wife has been on Social Security disability since Oct 2010 when she was 57. She will reach her full retirement age next year in March. I believe she is receiving disability benefits based on her own earnings because I'm not yet retired. This June of 2018 I will start drawing reduced early age Social Security retirement at age 62. Will my wife be able to switch over and receive half of my full age retirement next March 2019 when she reaches her full age retirement of 66? If so will she actually request to . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Feb 15 2018 - 7:27am
Did I Mess Up By Remarrying?
I just turned 53 and am collecting Social Security disability benefits (a very small check). My second husband (to which I'm still married) is almost 60.5 years old and is still working. He is set to retire at 66.5, so in another 6 years.
My first husband will be 54 in May. I'm pretty sure he makes more money than my second husband, though he's only a year older than I am, so I'm not sure if he has more in 'the pot' since he's younger than my second husband.
What do you suggest I do to maximize benefits? This is especially important since my second husband and I . . . Read More
Category: Remarriage
Posted: Feb 15 2018 - 7:08am
If I Start Drawing My Husband's Benefits Will They Take Away Mine?
My husband and I were married 27 years. He and I both were disabled young, and both received SSD. I in 2003-4 and him around 2000. He died in 2016 and I was not 50 yet. I won't be 50 for over a year. When I get his benefit, do they automatically take away mine? He made more than I did. If I got his when I turned 50 and they take away mine, can I work and still collect his?
Hi,
I'm sorry for your loss.
It sounds like what you may qualify for at age 50 is a disabled widow's benefit, or DWB ( . . . Read More
Category: Disabled Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Feb 15 2018 - 6:52am
Am I Right?
Hi Larry,
I have your book, but still not clear on the following. My husband started collecting social security at 62, as of October 2017. I have not applied yet for the spousal annuity, I am 62 years old, and also have not applied for my own social security benefit. If I wait until my full retirement age of 66 to apply for the spousal annuity, would I receive at that time half of my husbands full retirement amount,if he would have waited until full retirement age to collect, or would it be based on what he is getting now. It would make a huge difference for us. I guess . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Feb 14 2018 - 9:27am
Will My Disabled Son Be Able To Receive Benefits From His Father's Record?
My son is 41yrs old and disabaled and is getting disability benefits since he was 15. His father and I are no longer married. His father ia 62yrs old. Can my son benefit from his father's SS benefits when his father retires?
Hi,
Probably. Assuming that your son isn't married, it sounds like he would likely qualify for disabled adult child's (DAC) benefits if and when either you or his father file for Social Security retirement benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/ . . . Read More
Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: Feb 14 2018 - 7:27am
How Can We Determine Whether Or Not We Should File Amended Tax Returns?
Hi. My wife has a peculiar problem. She is an ordained clergy, and is able to claim housing expenses as non-taxable. We have done this for many years never knowing this might affect her SSA payments. We only tumbled to this issue when her pension fund estimated her SSA benefit $500 a month higher than SSA does. We contacted our accountant, and he said we could refile for 2015 and 16, However, we'd have to pay the tax, which is not insubstantial. We are looking for a calculator that will help us decide if it is worth going back and refiling. Suggestions?
Thanks, Dennis . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Subject To Social Security Taxes
Posted: Feb 14 2018 - 7:11am
Can I Claim U.S. Social Security Benefits While Living In The U.K.?
I am a UK citizen with Green Card (resident alien status) who has worked in the US for 20 years in local government. My wife is a US citizen. Eventually we would like to return to the UK and I realize this may cause my US status to change to non-resident alien. Will I be eligible to claim US social security at 66 while living in the UK? Thank you.
Hi,
Yes, assuming that you have at least 40 quarters of U.S. Social Security coverage . The U.S. has a totalization agreement with the U.K. which permits citizens of the U.K. to receive their U.S. Social . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Feb 14 2018 - 6:54am
Can My Wife Collect Reduced Benefits On Her Own Record Now And Then Claim Half Of My Benefit When I File?
My wife was married for over 10 years, got divorced 12 years before we got married 4 months ago. I’m 57 ( max social security wages all my career) her ex spouse also has max SS wages. She was 61 when we got married. Her benefits are $500 at 62 ( now) and $700 at 661/2.
I know she can’t claim on previous husband but if she takes her benefits now, can she then claim half my benefits in 10 years when I’m 67 and full retirement age? Can she collect widow benefits from either spouse if one of us dies? If I wait to 70 to collect, how will that effect her?
Thank you so . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Feb 13 2018 - 10:27am
Can My Husband Do A File And Suspend At Age 66?
I filed for my benefits at 62 in 2017. When my husband turns 66 in 4 years , can he do a file and suspend ? If yes, than can I suspend my benefits and apply for spousal benefit under his SS? After that, then can I file for my own benefit at age 70?
Thank you,
Connie
Hi Connie,
Your husband could file for and suspend his retirement benefits at his full retirement age (FRA), but that wouldn't enable you to draw spousal benefits even if you suspended your own retirement benefits. You could suspend your retirement benefits at FRA or later . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Feb 13 2018 - 10:14am
Can I File For Divorced Spousal Benefits When I Reach FRA Or Do I Have To Wait Until My Ex Reaches FRA?
2 Questions:
1. I'm 6 months older than my ex. Can I apply for spousal benefits when I reach FRA (66), or do I have to wait 6 months until he turns 66?
2. I've never had a non-social security job, but my ex has. As part of our divorce, I'm entitled to a portion of his govt. pension. Will 2/3 of the amount I get from his pension be deducted from spousal benefits(GPO)?
Thanks.
Hi,
Assuming that you've been divorced for at least 2 years, you could potentially file for divorced spousal benefits as long as both you and your ex are at . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Feb 13 2018 - 9:56am