Ask Larry: Questions and Answers | Maximize My Social Security

Displaying 7241 - 7250 of 10063 questions.

Can SSI Cut My Daughter's Benefits If She's Not Paying A Fair Share Of Household Expenses?

Can SSI cut my adult daughter's benefits because "she cant meet her fair share of household expenses?" She lives with her step-dad, younger sister and I. Our mortgage is $2,888.00. And SSI said your mortgage indicates that we make too much money therefore they cut her nenefits from $735.00 to $490.00. How can i get her the maximum benefit?

Hi,

Probably. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a needs based program intended as a last resort means of providing a subsistence level income to people who are aged, blind or disabled ( . . . Read More

Category: Supplemental Security Income
Posted: Oct 8 2017 - 8:25pm

Can I Receive Both Short Term Disability And My Social Security Retirement Benefits?

I am 66, collecting full social security retirement benefits, + employed full time, but, currently on medical leave. I have applied for short term disability. Will my disability claim be paid concurrent with my social security retirement benefit?

Hi,

I can only confirm that your Social Security benefits won't be affected by any short-term disability payments that you may receive. Whether or not the reverse is true would depend on the terms of your short-term disability insurance policy.

Best, Jerry

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Oct 8 2017 - 8:15pm

Could I Have Drawn Half Of My Ex's Benefit Rate And Waited Until Age 70 To File For My Own Benefits?

I was married for 25 years when my husband wanted a divorce. I was 53 y/o when our divorce was final.
He is 2 yrs younger than me. I have never remarried and neither has he.
I thought that I either received 1/2 of my husband's SS or all of my own. 1/2 of his was not as much as all of mine.
I was born in 1944 and I think age 66 or 66 1/2 was the age I could draw my full SS. Which ever was when I began drawing mine. I never filed for half of his; I thought if I began drawing 1/2 of his, that was what I would have to draw the rest of my life. I was never . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Oct 8 2017 - 7:53pm

Should I Change My Plans If I Will Be Withdrawing Funds From An IRA?

I have been collecting my own SS benefits since May, 2017. In August my husband died. He had not started collecting his benefits when he died. Following your excellent "Maximize my Social Security" guidelines, I intended to claim my Survivor's benefit only when I turn 66 in November, 2018, when I will earn about $150 more a month than I would if I collected now.
Because I am keeping the house, I now have to pay the household bills, in addition to my own. I inherited his 403B, which I have rolled over into an annuity (which I can't touch for 6 years) and into a liquid IRA . . . Read More

Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Oct 8 2017 - 7:34pm

How Will WEP Affect Me?

Windfall Elimination Provision.
I am a British Citizen no a naturalized American. I moved here at the age of 48 in Aug 2001. I have 40 qtrs. and more on my SS record. I am entitled to a UK National Pension of about $800 per month. I have also contributed to my companies final salary pension plan pre tax since I joined them at 16, which should net me about $2300.00 per month.
How will the windfall elimination provision effect my US SS entitlement, are both these entitlements effected by the provision?

Thanks
PS. I have worked for the same company . . . Read More

Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Oct 8 2017 - 7:22pm

Can I File For My Own Benefits Now And Then File For Widow's Benefits At Age 66?

I am 63 and my husband and i had been married 35 years when he passed away. My question is, am I able to begin collecting my SS now and then at 66 (full retirement age) will I be able to switch to my deceased husbands SS.? His is more than mine. Thank you for your reply.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

Yes, if you are at least age 62 you could file for reduced retirement benefits on your own record now and then potentially file for unreduced widow's benefits at full retirement age. Or, if your own retirement benefit rate at age 70 would be higher . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Oct 8 2017 - 7:03pm

Can I Collect My Spouse's SSI If She Dies?

My partner (gaycouple) & I will be married this year. She will be 51yrs.old this year & collecting SSI Disability she doesn't have much time. I'm 38yrs.old can I collect her SSI & at what age? Can I still work?

Hi,

If your spouse is drawing SSI (Supplemental Security Income), then the answer is no. SSI is a needs based benefit with no auxiliary or survivor benefits involved.

However, if your spouse is receiving Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits, then you could potentially become eligible for widow(er)'s benefits. In order . . . Read More

Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Oct 6 2017 - 7:08am

Will A Wife On WEP Status Be Able To Get Survivor Benefits?

The info i need is concern over a surviving spouse (wife) who is on WEP. The social security bearing spouse (husband) is not affected by her WEP. Presently, the wife is not entitled to spousal survival benefits because of WEP status.

What happens to the wife as surviving spouse upon the husband's demise? Will she be entitled to any social security benefits?

Thank you

Hi,

It sounds like you might be confusing WEP with GPO. WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) only affects benefits payable on a person's own Social Security record, . . . Read More

Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Oct 6 2017 - 6:56am

What Is My Best Strategy?

I will be 60 in January and am still working making about $40,000/year. My spouse passed away 6 years ago at age 62 and made significantly more money than me. Should I start taking his social security when I turn 60? I am so confused having read so many different articles about what to do. I also have a Milford, CT city pension once I retire.

Thank you so much, Amy

Hi Amy,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I don't know anything about Milford CT's pension plan, but if your salary there is exempt from Social Security taxes it could affect your . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Oct 5 2017 - 4:09pm

Will I Be Able To Collect A Full Social Security Benefit?

My husband is 62 years old and recently retired from the police department and is collecting a pension and his social security benefits. His social security benefit was greatly reduced by the windfall provision. I am 60 years old and will not have a pension at retirement age. My social security benefits will be much higher than what my husband is now collecting in social security. When I retire will I be able to collect my full social security benefit?

Hi,

Nothing you stated in your question would indicate otherwise. Your husband's pension won't have . . . Read More

Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Oct 5 2017 - 6:20am

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