Was What I Was Told Correct?
Hi Larry,
I did as you suggested and went to the local Social Security office to have a commutation of my benefits.My last years income was my second highest income. I brought proof of incothat isn't their job.me and identification. After waiting about three and a half hours and seeing the screener twice I finally got to see someone. She looked at my income on the screen and said yes it is one of my higher incomes. She told me that she is unable to recalculate my benefits it is done by another office. I asked her why couldn't the screener have told me this3 1/2 hours ago . . . Read More
Category: Recomputations
Posted: Nov 28 2017 - 7:28am
Can My Wife Receive A Spousal Benefit If Her Own Benefit Rate Is Less Than Half Of Mine?
If I take a restricted application for spousal benefits on my wife (at fra) and then start collecting my own retirement benefit at 70 will my wife then be able to collect her spousal benefit if her retirement benefit is less than half of mine?
thanks
wk
Hi wk,
Maybe. In the scenario you describe, your wife's spousal benefit would be calculated by subtracting her full retirement age rate (PIA) from 50% of your PIA. That excess (if any) would then be added to the retirement rate that she is already receiving on her own record.
. . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Nov 28 2017 - 7:18am
Which Family Member's Benefit Is Reduced If The Family Maximum Limits Benefit Payments?
I am 62 years old and plan to retire when I turn 63 in August, 2018. I have worked my entire adult life and easily qualify for SS benefits. My wife is two years behind me and plans to retire with me in August, 2018. She’ll be 62 at that point, has worked most of her adult life and qualifies for her own SS benefit. We are trying to determine if it would be beneficial to have her climb on my SS benefit plan. I understand her benefit would be ½ of my full retirement benefit, which would be greater than if she filed for SS independently.
We also have a daughter, age 26, who . . . Read More
Category: Family Benefit Maximum
Posted: Nov 27 2017 - 5:01pm
Can My Wife File On Her Own Record Now And Switch To Spousal Benefits Later?
Larry & Friends,
Pray that all are doing well! I will be 66 July of '18. My wife is 3 years younger than me. I am still working & plan to continue to do so thru at least July of next year. I am undecided as to when I will apply for my SS benefits, but not before FRA. My wife is not working.My wife has not worked outside of the Home in many years - She was a stay-at-home- Mom for our Sons. My SS income @ FRA will be more than double what my wife would receive when she turns 70. My question, if my wife were to start to collect her reduced SS benefit now, when she . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Nov 27 2017 - 7:23am
Can I Collect On My Husband's Record At Full Retirement Age And Allow My Own Rate To Grow Until Age 70?
My birthday is 3/17/56 so I am currently 61. My husband is retired and is collecting Social Security. He is 76. When I am full retirement age 66 years and 4 months, can I collect on his benefit and let mine continue to grow until I am 70? What percentage will I be able to collect on his account? He currently receives about $2,200 a month gross. If I wait until I'm 70 to collect on my account, my benefit (according to today's chart) will be about $3,100. We have gotten at least three different answers on this! I appreciate any help you can give us.
Thank you!
. . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Nov 27 2017 - 7:13am
Is There Anything That My Friend Can Do?
A friend of mine has been married for 15 years, receiving SSDI for more than 20 years due to a serious long term incurable illness (approx.$1,400 mo.) She also receives a mo. check (approx. $800) for a child under the age of 16.
She has been battling the last year with an abusive narrsastic husband who has had her removed from her home by fling a bogus PFA order. He has stayed in marital home. Has been having an affair with someone for more than 7 years, has been stashing money somewhere during that time, no record of money anywhere, supposedly no record of a 401K . . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Nov 27 2017 - 6:48am
Can I Collect My Social Security Now And Keep Working Full-Time?
I am 64 and 2 months. I am working fulltime but likely to retire in April. Can I collect my social security now as well as work full time? I realize it is a lower amount than if I waited to 66 but circumstances may change that . I If I do not have to retire come April, can I suspend those benefits at that point and continue to work until 70.
Hi,
The answer to your question depends on how much you earn. If you will earn more than $16,920 this year and more than $1410, then the Social Security earnings test would require withholding of some or all of . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Nov 27 2017 - 6:30am
Does Your Software Include Calculations For Federal Employees And Spouses Impacted By CSRS Offset?
Hi Larry and Jerry,
My husband is a high earning federal government employee. His social security and pension benefits are impacted by CSRS offset. My husband is 66 and will retire in about 2 years. Considering the offset, he calculates his social security benefit to be $2,500 monthly at age 68.
I have worked part-time most of my life, but now work full-time and qualify for a social security benefit based on my earnings of about $2,000 monthly at age 70.
I am not sure if we can collect on both work records or how the CSRS offset impacts my social security. . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Nov 26 2017 - 12:15pm
Can I Receive Widow's Benefits On My Second Husband's Record?
Dear Larry:
My second husband just passed away Nov 15, 2017. I was married to my ex husband for 13 years. SSA has been claiming for 3 years that my SECOND husband lacked 1 work credit each year thereafter that I filed for his benefits even though he worked part time to earn that one credit - and I reported those earnings on my tax return. I will be 61 on Nov 29th. My question is: Can I receive surviving widow benefits on my second husband's record? Can I receive widow benefits if they combined his earnings record with mine? And will my first husband's record be of any . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Nov 26 2017 - 7:03am
Can I Collect On My Ex-Spouse's Record If I've Remarried?
I was married to my ex for 30 years. Divorced in 2000. I remarried at age 51, 14 years ago. I am 65. I have collected my social security since age 62. My question is can I collect from my ex’s spousal benefit social security as his is more than mine. Thank you.
Hi,
No, you wouldn't qualify for divorced spousal benefits as long as your remarriage continues. However, you could potentially become eligible for benefits on your ex's record if your current marriage ends in death or divorce.
Best, Jerry
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Nov 26 2017 - 6:57am
