Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

Displaying 7021 - 7030 of 10063 questions.

Will My Son's Benefits Be Cut When I Retire?

I am a 61 year old man and wondering how my retirement in a few years will affect my Social Security benefits and my disabled son's social security payments. My son is 24 years old and has received Social security and SSI since my wife (his Mother) died in 1997. I was left with 8 children from our marriage, to raise on my own. Needless to say, money was tight these past 20+ years. My son's current benefits are broken down into three parts. 1. As SSI. 2. As Social Security and 3. A very small portion from the state supplementing the social security portion (about $30.00 per . . . Read More

Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: Nov 16 2017 - 8:19am

Can You Help Me Understand What I Can Do?

I am a 58 year old widow that is working 2 jobs and making approx. 40,000 a year. I was told that I could sometime in the future get either my deceased husband's social security and then switch to mine at a later date or vise versa. Can you help me understand what I can do? My husband died in 2005 and was only making around 30,000-35,000 a year when he passed at 55 years old. I am just trying to figure it out because I need the money and I am tired of having to work 2 jobs but I also don't know what the truth is. Your help is appreciated.

Hi,

I'm . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Nov 16 2017 - 8:11am

What Exactly Do I Need To Do?

I am working full time age 62, income $75,000.00. My husband passed 3 years age at age 63 and was working full time taking no SS benefits. I plan on working until age 70 to receive the highest amount of benefits. What exactly do I need to do before my 66th birthday. I was told that I can collect said ( not sure what amount- his 62 yrs.old figure?) amount of his benefits from age 66 to 70 then at age 70 switch to my calculated benefit for age 70. My amount is slightly higher than his was the last time I was able to look at it.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Nov 16 2017 - 7:55am

Will My Wife's Duplicate Medicare Premiums Be Refunded Automatically?

My wife began Medicare benefits as of Sept 1. She received an invoice from CMS and paid the Medicare Part B premium for September-December ($134*4months). Now, she is starting her SS Retirement benefit as of November (her FRA). The award letter indicates that Part B premiums will be deducted from her monthly checks when they begin in December.
I have two questions:
1) will SSA or CMS automatically refund her for the months where there is a duplicate payment/deduction for Part B premium, or does she need to request this somehow? If it is automatic, how long is it . . . Read More

Category: Medicare
Posted: Nov 16 2017 - 7:43am

Any Advice For Me?

I'm still working (age 68), am divorced for over 20 years and married for over 10 years (ex-spouse is age 66). I filed online in June 2017 to receive SS benefits through my ex-spouse and requested retroactive benefits. (My plan is to continue to receive his benefit until I reach 70 at which time I will begin taking my benefit.) I began receiving his benefit in August 2017 but didn't receive any notice regarding my request for retroactive benefits. I went into the Malden SS office and met with someone who told me that they didn't have any record of my request for the retroactive . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Nov 16 2017 - 7:23am

Why Is Social Security Asking Me To See Another Doctor?

hi larry,
so im at the reconsideration stage of my disability benefits, i got turmed down for my issue with my back and leg, i finally got my own dr to fill out a medical source form and sent it to SS along with the application for reconsideration, now i get a letter from them saying they want me to go for a consultory visit , this time for a mental exam, is that their way of brushing me off again?
- i went to a exam set up by them before, the dr was 92 years old, and did nothing else but perform these exams, so i giuess im quite skeptical at this point. what . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Nov 16 2017 - 6:57am

How Can I Get Credit For Earnings Missing From My Social Security Record?

dear mr lary ,i am residing outside us .i just started to receive my social security benefit and i noticed on my earning statement there is almost the third of my earning years has a zero earning while i have earning and i payed taxes .i send 2 lettersto social security without answear ,can you help .many thanks for your reply

Hi,

If you paid Social Security taxes on earnings that aren't posted to your earnings record, you will likely need to submit proof of those earnings to Social Security in order to have them credited to your record. The best . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Subject To Social Security Taxes
Posted: Nov 15 2017 - 7:38am

Can A Spouse Receive Benefits Even If The Person They Marry Is Already Getting Benefits At The Time Of The Marriage?

if one gets married after they are receiving retirement benefits, can their spouse receive spousal benefits, or must one be married prior to applying for benefits?

Hi,

Yes, a new spouse can potentially become entitled to spousal benefits even if they marry after their spouse began receiving Social Security benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.03/handbook-0305.html).

Best, Jerry

Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Nov 15 2017 - 7:29am

Will My Daughter Get Higher Benefits If I Wait Until Age 70 To Start Drawing?

My daughter has been disabled since a child. She gets SSI, MediCal and Regional Center services. After 4 years she got a low income apartment and needs to work I haven't worked since last October and turn 66 August 2018 .I was told to wait to 70 to file so her 50% benefit would be greater. However today I was told her benefit is fixed to my age 66 benefit even if I wait to 70 and I should consider filing so she can get benefits from my retirement benefits. Should she stay on SSI or should I file so she gets more. If she gets married how will it affect SSI versus SS . How about . . . Read More

Category: Disabled Adult Child Benefits
Posted: Nov 15 2017 - 6:59am

What Would Be Most Advantageous In My Case?

Hi Larry, I purchased the Get What's Yours book and I am still unclear as to what would benefit me best. My husband passed away in 2003 at 49 years (15 days from 50 years). I think he received SSDI for 3 months. I am 61 years 7 months young, I am currently unemployed receiving VA compensation and have been disabled since 2012 (not on SSDI). I received (Mothers) Family benefits until 2007. I am unsure if I qualify for the disabled widow's benefit or the widow's benefit. I could use some extra income at this time, but, I want to do what's best for now with my future in mind. . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Nov 14 2017 - 7:09am
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.