What Are My Options?
I am 53 and live in Texas. I'm on SSI disibility and receive 900 a month in benefits. My Mom is my authorized representative. At first I received about 1200. I received a notice saying that the amount would be reduced since I was living with my Mom at the time and recovering from cancer. I have just moved out and have discovered you can't even find a room to rent for that. I'm not on housing vouchers or SNAP and don't even know if Im applicable. I cant talk to SSI because they have to go thru my Mom (representative) She wants me to move back in and says SSI might stop my . . . Read More
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 23 2017 - 3:00pm
Do You Need To Report Your Spouse's Income If You're Married?
If you are married and receive social security benefits aren't you suppose to report your spouse income
Hi,
I'm sorry, but you haven't furnished enough information to allow me to properly answer your question. If you are referring to the earnings countable for Social Security earnings test purposes and you receive benefits on your own record, then only your own earned income is considered(https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking2.html).
If you're referring to . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Sep 23 2017 - 2:51pm
What Income Is Included For SNAP Eligibility?
My daughter receives survivors benefits from the loss of her husband. Her children 10 and 13 also receive the same. If she applies for SNAP does she use only her income from survivor benefits or does she include include the childrens benefit as her income. She dose not work right now.
Hi,
Sorry, but I'm not an expert on the SNAP program. You'll need to check with the agency that handles those benefits.
Best,
Jerry
Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Sep 23 2017 - 2:47pm
How Is This For Complicated?
Hi Larry,
I was born in Nov. 1956, and my husband was born in Aug. 1953. I worked before our marriage, then became a stay at home mom. I qualify for a small SS benefit. My husband has a much larger SS benefit. He plans to retire at 66 or later. We want to wait to take his SS to maximize our benefits. My half of my husband's benefit at his FRA is much larger than my own SS benefit. My husband qualifies for a restricted application. I do have a small income which varies, but is usually around 16,000/yr from an S corp, and an inherited IRA which is invested in mutual funds . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Sep 23 2017 - 2:31pm
Is There Any Way To Appeal This?
My ex-husband recently passed. He was collecting SSD. I applied for survivor benefits for my minor son. While at the local social security office the person helping me advised that my ex did not notify social security that he had minor children back when he applied for SSD, no the children are not entitled to back benefits. Is there any way to appeal this? He had 3 minor child when he initially applied for SSD approximately 4 years ago. Also, child support was being taken from his SSD benefit so how could they not have known? Thanks in advance.
Hi,
. . . Read More
Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Sep 23 2017 - 12:35pm
Will My Social Security Benefits Be Subject To GPO?
Hi Larry,
I am about to turn 65 and apply for Social Security benefits as well as enroll in Medicare. I have worked my entire career in private industry and paid taxes accordingly. Fourteen years ago, I was divorced from my ex-spouse, a federal employee who just retired on September 1, 2017 (CSRS - 40 years). Since the divorce, I have obtained my health insurance through FEHB under the Spouse Equity provisions. I also have a Qualified Court Order and written approval from OPM to receive retirement and survivor benefits from my ex-spouse. That claim is being processed at . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Sep 22 2017 - 7:59am
Would Social Security Withhold More Of My Benefits If I Raise My Estimated Earnings?
hi my question is if i told my estimate for this year would be 24400 and i get 1748 a month so that would be 7480 over the limit half would be3740 but they already withheld 3 whole months which is 5244 . my question is what if i earn more than that but what i would owed them is total of 4528 .it's still in the same of that what they withheld in the end i do not really know exactly how much but i estimated to them all and all it's not going to be more than they withheld would they withhold another check or take it from that 5244 thank you.
Hi,
If . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Sep 22 2017 - 7:52am
Will An Increase In My FERS Amount Affect My Social Security Disability Benefits?
I receive ss disability and a check from fers every month. I just turnded 62 and received a letter from fers telling me that my monthly check will be increased by $1000 a month will that affect my disability check from Social Security?
Hi,
No, changes in your FERS payments won't have any effect on your Social Security benefits. If you were receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a change in other benefits could affect your SSI payments.
Best, Jerry
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Sep 22 2017 - 7:43am
Was I Given Bad Information?
Hi Larry,
I opted for early social security, then realized I needed to work also, to continue paying for my late husband's eight years of cancer treatments (we had insurance but the annual deductibles --$5000 yearly-- crushed us.) I've been grabbing all the overtime I can, and know that I will exceed the earnings limit for 2017. I called Social Security in August to report my anticipated earnings, and was told not to worry about it, that they would recalculate in January 2018 when my actual income is known, and will withhold starting in February 2018 for what I was . . . Read More
Category: Earnings Test
Posted: Sep 22 2017 - 7:33am
Can The Government Garnish My Whole Check For Health Insurance?
Hello Larry,
I am 66 years old, my husband and I live off of our social security checks as our only source of income. My question is can the government garnish my whole check for health insurance if I'm supposed to be on medi-care not medi-cal? I only make a very small amount and they've taken it all. Please help! Thank You.
Hi,
Social Security can't garnish your benefits to pay for health insurance, but if you sign up for Medicare then your Medicare premiums are withheld from your Social Security benefits. It rarely occurs, but if the . . . Read More
Category: Medicare
Posted: Sep 21 2017 - 4:58pm
