Ask Larry: Questions and Answers | Maximize My Social Security

Displaying 81 - 90 of 10063 questions.

Would I Be Eligible For My Husband's SS If He Predeceases Me?

I am a retired USG employments under CSRS. I will no received SS. If my husband predeceases me, am I eligible to receive his SS? Also, if I predecease him, does he still collect his SS and survivor benefits from my pension? Thank you.

Hi. You could apply for spousal benefits while your husband is living, and/or survivor benefits following his death, but your spousal or survivor benefit rate would almost certainly be offset by 2/3rds of the amount of your CSRS pension due to the Government Pension Offset (GPO) ( . . . Read More

Category: Survivor Benefits
Posted: Apr 19 2023 - 11:45am

Is There Anything I Can Do To Reverse Social Security's Policies?

My father died 5 years ago and I was denied his benefits. I am a mentally handicapped male who was denied because I made to much money on my only near full time job way back in 1995.Since then, I have only had seasonal or part time jobs, and because of surgeries over the years, am no longer able to do much physical labor at all, and I am only fifty one years old. I have led a fairly poor life and would love to get his benefits to actually live and enjoy whatever time I have left on earth. Is there anything I can do to reverse their policies?

Hi. I'm sorry . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Apr 19 2023 - 11:25am

Is The PIA A Static Number?

Please answer two questions that likely have been answered, perhaps in many places, but are not clear to me:

I will be 69 in August, and am thinking of filing for benefits beginning then. My wife of 40 years is 65, and will be at her FRA of 66-1/2 in June, 2024.

I currently have delayed benefits, including COLA additions, that are greater than what my PIA was, or would have been on the day of my FRA when I turned 66.

Ignoring for the moment any reductions if my wife files for spousal benefits before her own FRA , and assuming 50% of my benefit is more than . . . Read More

Category: Benefit Amount
Posted: Apr 19 2023 - 10:47am

Do I Need To Enroll In Medicare Parts B, C or D If I'm Enrolled In A Retired Federal Employee Plan?

I am a retired federal worker and as such am able to buy and keep my Medical Benefits as though I am still working. I receive SS benefits and am turning 65 in January of 2024. So my question is this, Do I need to take Medicare B,C,D etc if I am enrolled in a major medical plan already? I know I have to file for Part A.
Thank you for any help you can provide.

Hi. No, you certainly aren't required to enroll in parts B,C, or D of Medicare. Unlike most private industry health plans, federal employee/retiree plans do not automatically revert to secondary . . . Read More

Category: Medicare
Posted: Apr 18 2023 - 1:23pm

Is There A Loophole For Me To Get Disability?

I am a 51 year old woman, I had developed back and neck issues, apparently I haven't worked 5 out of 10 years. And my husband is on disability, is there a loophole for me to get disability? The SSA will not make a judgement if I'm disabled .

Hi. There's no loophole, but I can try to clarify the insured status rules for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. In order for a person who becomes disabled at age 31 or later to be insured for SSDI, they must have earned at least 20 quarters (QC) of Social Security coverage within the 10 year period ending . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Apr 18 2023 - 12:01pm

Is My Amount Correct?

Hello
.My husband retired after 21 yrs NYPD after that he work another 15 yrs in another state. Received letters from social security that he was max out and çouldnt put anymore money into social security. So at the age of 62 I his ŵife applied for social security was told I'm only too get 35%. My husband said the amount is not right. and I am disable and should have been collecting from him all. along...plus I have a letter from telling me they withheld $3500
Because I could of been getting disability ssi while I was receiving ss.
Now we all know they can . . . Read More

Category: Spousal Benefit
Posted: Apr 18 2023 - 7:10am

What Can I Do?

I was a representative payee for someone for one year and during that time I reported he is been working and submitted his paystubs to social security so they found out he is owing social security and he is been overpaid a year before I become his payee and now ssi is holding me responsible for his debts if he can’t pay.what should I do am worried

Hi. If Social Security is asking you to repay an overpayment then you should be able to appeal that decision. Here is the website that tells you how to go about doing so: . . . Read More

Category: Representative Payee
Posted: Apr 17 2023 - 6:44pm

Can I File For Surviving Ex-Spouse Benefits At Age 60 And Then Switch To Full Widow's Benefits At FRA?

Hi - I was married to my first husband for 11 years and divorced. My 2nd marriage - also 11 years - ended when my spouse died. My ex-husband died after my 2nd had died, so I was unmarried (widowed) at the time of his death. My ex was receiving SSDI when he died.
I am 52 now (born Dec 1970) & will be eligible to draw on my own record.
My question is: can I file for surviving ex-spouse benefits at 60 then switch to full widow's benefits at FRA? And will my record also be used to determine surviving ex-spouse benefits if so?
Thanks in advance for your answers . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Apr 17 2023 - 6:33pm

When Do I Get My Check?

I applied March 23, 2023. When do I get my check?

Hi. That depends on your date of birth and your initial month of entitlement to benefits. For example, if you were born on March 23, 1961 and if you chose to start your Social Security retirement benefits effective with April 2023, your first payment would be due on the 4th Wednesday of May (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10031-2023.pdf).

You may want to consider using our software ( . . . Read More

Category: Miscellaneous
Posted: Apr 16 2023 - 9:39am

Can My Wife Collect Her Benefits Now At Age 63 WIthout Losing The Ability To Collect Half Of My Benefit Amount Later?

My wife and I are 63. Both retired with no plans ever to work for money again. Her full retirement age ss benefit will be less than 50% of my FRA benefit. We can afford to defer collecting and thus have deferred. Q. Could she collect now without losing the ability to collect 50% of mine later. We are both healthy and plan to live into our 90’s. Yuk, yuk so I was gonna defer as long as it makes sense. Obviously not past 70.

Hi. No. Once a person starts collecting their own Social Security retirement benefits, those benefits continue for life. And, if your . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Apr 16 2023 - 9:13am

Return to Ask Larry

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.

Get What's Yours—Buy Now!