Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

Displaying 6951 - 6960 of 10063 questions.

Could You Clarify Our Options?

I turned 62 in June of 2017, we have a 14 year old at home, my wife says my daughter is eligible for SS benefits but from what I read on line due to our / my income she is not eligible, could you please clarify? (if it matters, I plan to work until I am 67 years old). Thank you very much.

Hi,

It sounds like you, your daughter and your wife could potentially qualify for benefits on your record, but $1 of the total amount payable would be withheld for each $2 that you earn in excess of $16920 this year, and $17040 next year.

So, let's say for . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Dec 2 2017 - 10:14am

What Must My Mom Do In Order To Get Survivor Benefits In The Event Of My Father's Death?

Hi Larry, thanks in advance for your assistance. I'm asking this question on behalf of my parents, unmarried. My dad, age 65, is eligible for social security, but my mom, age 63, is not (she doesn't have enough SS credits). What must my mom do in order to get survivor's benefit in case my dad passes away? There is no common law marriage in NY state, so even though they've lived together for decades, they're unmarried. If they get married and stay married 9 months, will that alone make my mom eligible for survivor benefits down the road? Thank you very much.

. . . Read More

Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Dec 2 2017 - 8:05am

How Much Could My Ex-Spouse Receive?

Larry

I am currently 64. I plan on delaying my social security benefits until 70. My FRA is 66. My ex spouse is 3 years younger than I and should be will be eligible for spousal benefits. What 50% spousal benefit is she entitled too, my FRA amount or my 70 benefit amount? Thank you for considering my question.

Hi,

Your ex-spouse could potentially receive up to 50% of your full retirement age rate (PIA), not 50% of your age 70 rate. If you die first, though, your ex-spouse could receive up to 100% of your age 70 rate if you wait until then to . . . Read More

Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Dec 2 2017 - 7:49am

What Can I Do?

I have retired (65) I was under extreme duress, and it was necessary to do so. I applied for my Retirement and for my SS. I went to SS office sat for 2 hrs and when I got to see a very nice young man. He pointed out that in 1968 when my mother took me to get my Card for the first time she had to submit my birth certificate. (for a work permit for school) there is an incorrect date for my year of birth. (1951) mine is 7-11-52. so they did nothing to help. The gentleman told me that sometimes when they transfer to computer. (there error) So now I have to wait until I get a Birth . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Dec 2 2017 - 7:35am

How Do I Get The Back Payments Due Me?

My husband passed away April 9, 2014 on April 10th I called the Boise, ID social security office to ask about receiving widow's benefits. At the time I was 63 years old they said I wasn't eligible for widow's benefits. In August 2016, I was in a social security office, in Minneapolis, MN to inquire about my own social security benefits and thought I would ask about the widow's benefits again, they gave me information about my own upcoming benefits but again when I inquired about widow's benefits they told me I wasn't eligible. Then on October 6, 2017 I had another appointment . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Dec 1 2017 - 5:20pm

What Should I Do About My Son's Welfare Being Stopped?

welfare stop my son benefit because he gets survivor benefits ssi what should i do...

Hi,

I'm sorry, but I don't have enough information about your son's situation to be able to give you any advice. I can tell you that 'welfare' payments are generally needs based, so it's not surprising that such benefits would be affected by your son's receipt of Social Security survivor benefits.

Best, Jerry

Category: Public Assistance Payments
Posted: Dec 1 2017 - 7:30am

What Would Happen If I Tried To Collect On My Ex-Wife's Record?

Hi Larry,

Great book (Get What's Yours Revised)! I will be 62 in June 2018 and my ex-wife (we were married for 34 years until four years ago) will turn 62 in July 2018. I worked in private industry until age 52 and for the past nine years have been working for a city government where I don't pay into SS (I pay into an alternative SS retirement program). I expect to continue working until age 72 at which time I will look to retire. If I were to try and collect om my ex-wife's SS in July 2018, 1) would I pay $1 in taxes for every $2 I received each year until I turned 66 . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Dec 1 2017 - 7:01am

Why Am I Subject To The WEP Provision?

I am a Canadian citizen and resident receiving Canada pension benefits from working there. I also worked part time in the US for 18 years paying US social security and medicare payments. This entitled me to a small pension from US Social Security. However the amount has been substantially reduced due to the WEP. Why should that be when clearly I would never have paid US SS on my Canadian earnings but do not see why the WEP should apply since I am not a US citizen. Thanks

Hi,

The stated purpose of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is to prevent . . . Read More

Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Dec 1 2017 - 6:42am

Do I Need To File For My Benefits In Order To Permit My Wife To Collect Spousal Benefits?

My wife turned 62 before the change date of the new file/suspend rules (Jan. 2016). She turns 65 in April 2018; I will be 62 in February 2018. Our SS strategy has always been for her to file & restrict to spousal benefits in April 2019 when she turns 66. To do this - it is my understanding that I would would need to file for SS benefits at the same time (I will be 63 in April 2019). Is that correct? Also - can we employee this strategy earlier? So if I file for early benefits at age 62 (February 2018) can she file and restrict at the same time (she would be 64 years old in . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Dec 1 2017 - 6:35am

What Should My Wife Do?

I started drawing soc sec at 62 now I’m 70. I am now on disability soc sec. My wife has full soc sec benefits when she retires. She will be 62 in July 2018. She planning to retire in July 2018 and start her benifits. What does she to do to make best decision. My soc sec at 62 was 1300.00 and is now 1472.00 with disability. Will she draw off her work history which I think will be 1300 or should she draw off mine and freeze hers until she become full retirement age. We really don’t know what to do.

Hi,

Your wife won't ever have the option of filing just . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Nov 30 2017 - 5:37pm
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