Ask Larry: Questions and Answers | Maximize My Social Security

Displaying 7891 - 7900 of 10063 questions.

Should My Spousal Benefits Count Against My Wife's LTD Insurance Payments?

Can a Spousal Benefit (Social Security) offset a Long Term Disability payments? My wife is 62 and I am 67. My wife is on both LTD and Social Security Disability and has been for the last 15 years. I am still working and in 2016 I did a file and suspend on-line for Social Security Benefit thinking that it might help my wife in some way. The Social Security office >called me and acknowledge receipt of my request and then asked why. When I told them they looked up my wife and said she was making more than half of what I would pull from Social Security so they said it didn't . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Jun 7 2017 - 6:39am

Can I Get Retroactive Benefits Beginning Anytime in 2017?

i am 69 and want to start collecting benefits in Sept. 2017. Can I get retroactive benefits to begin anytime in 2017?

Hi,

Assuming that you haven't already filed and suspended your benefits, you can claim benefits up to 6 months retroactively from the month in which you apply. Note, however, that you will not receive delayed retirement credits (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/delayret.html) for any months for which you end up being paid.

Best, Jerry

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Jun 7 2017 - 6:32am

Can I Receive Divorced Spousal Benefits From The Railroad And My Social Security Benefits?

At age 62 will I be able to receive divorced spousal benefits from the railroad and at retirement age draw my social security benefits?

Hi,

Potentially, yes. However, you can only receive the higher of your Social Security benefit rate or your Tier 1 Railroad rate, not both simultaneously. In addition to the higher of those 2 rates, you could be paid any Tier 2 Railroad benefits to which you are entitled.

In some cases, it's optimal for a person receiving Railroad Retirement (RR) benefits to wait until age 70 to claim their Social Security . . . Read More

Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: Jun 6 2017 - 8:14am

Can My Wife Claim Benefits As My Spouse?

My wife and I have been married for 36 years.

She is 82 and I am 61.

I have contributed maximum social security for more than 25 years.

She rarely worked outside the home and receives almost nothing. She claimed on her own earnings at the age of 68.

Can my wife claim as my spouse?

When can she claim as my spouse?

She has been a wonderful helpmate and built a great life for our family and I would like that she share some of the benefits that I have contributed.
I fear that I will survive her and she will have never enjoyed . . . Read More

Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Jun 6 2017 - 8:05am

Would Could My Granddaughter Receive If I Adopt Her?

I am 70 started drawing disability around 60 and do not work my wife of 31 years is 54 and still works little over $100,000 a year I get $1,962 in social security we want to adopt our 4 year old granddaughter please tell me best way for her to draw social security and what should she be able to draw Thank you so much for any assistance

Hi,

If you adopt your granddaughter, she could become eligible for a child's benefit equal to 50% of your full Social Security benefit amount, or PIA ( . . . Read More

Category: Child Benefits
Posted: Jun 6 2017 - 7:47am

Can I Apply For Social Security At Age 70 Even Though I'm Getting Railroad Benefits?

I have a unique situation. I retired at the age of 60 from 25 years of teaching in Michigan. I am married to a retired railroad man who worked for 42 years. When I retired I began collecting approximately 1/2 the amount my husband received from Railroad Retretirement. I will be 70 in August. I just received my SS Benefit schedule that says that at 70 I would receive $2,190 in SS. I currently receive $1418 in RR retirement, a $772 difference. Can I now apply for SS at 70 or does my starting RR retirement at 60 end that possibility? Also, if my husband dies before me I will stop . . . Read More

Category: Railroad Retirement & Social Security
Posted: Jun 6 2017 - 7:31am

Who Is Correct?

My husband passed away in December of 2014 (I had turned 60 in August of that year). I visited the social security office to complete the requisite filings. I was advised about the reduction based on age and the earnings cap. Since I was employed as a teacher, the amount of benefit would have been marginally above zero at the time. I was further advised that the amount of my benefit would increase along with my age and that any point I could file for the benefit. I was further advised that I could switch to my own in the future if that benefit was higher. I have now reached the . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Jun 6 2017 - 7:16am

Will It Benefit Me To Wait To Get Divorced Until Our Marriage Has Lasted For 10 Years?

I will be filing for divorce soon. I am so close to 10 years. My soon to be ex makes almost twice as much as I do, will this benefit me to wait? Also if I wait, how long before our 10th year anniversary can I file the do it yourself papers?Can i file a month or two before the 10 year anniversay as long as it won't be final until after the 10 years mark? Is filing the "Divorce Decree" the date that counts? Hope this makes sense. Please help, I do not want to wait any longer than I have to.

Hi,

The only sure thing is that you won't ever be able to draw . . . Read More

Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: Jun 6 2017 - 6:59am

Can I Still File And Suspend My Benefits?

Hi Larry,
Have 2015 copy of "Get..." but now I see "file and suspend" is history...? Is that true even for single people like me ? - it seems they nixed it due to a loophole involving spousal benefits.
Thanks,
-Paul

Hi Paul,

You can still file and suspend your benefits at full retirement age (FRA), but there is likely no reason for you to do so. Instead, you can simply delay filing for benefits until you want to start drawing them. You will accrue delayed retirement credits (DRC) for any months that you decline benefits between . . . Read More

Category: File and Suspend
Posted: Jun 6 2017 - 6:53am

How Much Can I Earn And Still Receive Widower's Benefits?

I have been told that I can still work while collecting SS for widow benifites. How much can I make a month while doing this? I have an under age daughter still at home also. I just turned 60 in April. My wife passed in 2011.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

The exempt amount of earnings for 2017 is $16,920. If you earn more than that, you would lose $1 of benefits for each $2 of excess earnings. However, you could be paid for any month in which you earn less than $1,410 regardless of your calendar year earnings ( . . . Read More

Category: Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Jun 6 2017 - 6:41am

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