Why Is My Benefit Rate Reduced?
Dear Sir, I am Canadian and moved (job) to Florida from Toronto in 2005 on Green card visa. I retired in Canada and collect CPP and at 66 I applied for SS retirement benefits. Here first time I found out about WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) I feel this is very wrong....and I am looking for a solution to avoid this if there is one. I consider a CPP could be in Canada for the years worked there and the same thing here....I do not see why to have a reduced SS benefit just because I worked in Canada and did not pay taxes in US I do not claim years for SS benefit that I did . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: May 13 2017 - 8:24am
Do I Have To Accept Reduced Widow's Benefits?
My husband passed away 4/2017 at 73 he was collecting SS $1684 with Medicare taken out I'm 62 just started to collect my ck $884 SS sent me form SSA-4111 to fill out I'm hesitant. It's for permanent reduced benefit of $1251. Thats half of what we got together. Do I hv to accept this they said if I don't sent form back I will get nothing. Can I wait till I'm 65 to get survivors full benefits or do I have to sign and accept this now. Please let me know as I have appt 5/16 with SS. Thank You, Eileen
Hi Eileen,
I'm sorry for your loss.
You aren't . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: May 12 2017 - 5:00pm
How Are My Disability Benefits Calculated?
If I am disabled at age 60 how does Social Security calculate my disability benefit? When I reach my maximum age 66 4 months how much less do I receive than if I worked until 66? Can I delay benefits until 70 to increase my benefit? I have a work history of 36 years.
Hi,
Social Security disability benefits are calculated essentially the same as retirement benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10070.pdf), except that fewer years may be used in the computation. If a person becomes disabled at . . . Read More
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: May 12 2017 - 4:43pm
Will My Domestic Partner Qualify For An SEP Based On Coverage Under My Employer's Plan?
My domestic partner "Linda" (we are not married) is preparing to file for SEP Medicare Part B (Linda is moving to another state outside the coverage of her current health insurance plan). Linda is 66 and disabled, and at age 61 was auto-enrolled in Medicare (when she qualified for disability), and she eventually got the Part-A only Medicare card after proving health care coverage through my employment. She will have the Request for Employment Information Form 0938-0787 from my employer showing continuous coverage since 2009. The coverage is still in effect but will end when . . . Read More
Category: Medicare
Posted: May 12 2017 - 12:55pm
How Do I Know I'm Getting All Of The Benefits I Can Get?
I am 57 yrs of age and am totally disabled for 10 years my husband just passed away last year and I contacted social security and they told me I can only receive 447 of my husbands social security for widows benefits since I receive 987 on my income for disability my husband and I were not prepared since he has never been sick and both his parents are in late 90s and I am in stage 3 kidney failure and have had several surgeries and my doctors say my body is deteriorating and my husband did everything to care for me so how do I know I am getting all the benefits I am suppose to . . . Read More
Category: Disabled Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: May 12 2017 - 9:28am
Can I File For Retirement Benefits At Age 62 If I'm Getting SSDI?
i am 62 and been collecting SSD for 10 years, the SSD is offset by Workers Compensation. I understand that when I turn 66 my SSD becomes SS Retirment with NO WC offset. My question is "can i get SS retirement now at 62?
Hi,
Yes you can, and if your reduced retirement rate would be higher than your disability benefit (SSDI) rate after the Workers Compensation offset is applied, it would likely be advantageous for you to do so.
Best, Jerry
Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: May 12 2017 - 9:15am
Does Qualifying As A Domestic Partner Preclude Divorced Spousal Benefits On An Ex's Record?
If I am named as a domestic partner under my fiancee's health plan, does that preclude me from receiving ss benefits from my ex-husband when he starts taking his benefit in three years?
Hi,
No, but if you remarry, you can't qualify for divorced spousal benefits on a living former spouse's record (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/divspouse.html).
Best, Jerry
Category: Divorced Spousal Benefits
Posted: May 12 2017 - 9:07am
Can I File For Spousal Benefits At Age 62 And Switch To My Own Record At FRA?
My husband is 64 and receiving SSDI benefits. I will be 62 in November 2017. Could I apply for spousal SSDI benefits at 62 and switch to my own SS record at or after age 66 ys and 2 months?
Hi,
No, assuming that you don't have an eligible child in care. Since you were born after January 1 1954, you will be deemed to be filing for both spousal benefits and for retirement benefits on your own record whenever you file for either type of benefit (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/deemedfaq. . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: May 12 2017 - 8:59am
Can My Friend Change The Type Of Benefit She Applied For?
A friend applied for Social Security benefits a few years back. During the application process they asked her if she wanted to use her work history or her husband's to calculate the benefits. Not knowing exactly what it meant she decided to use hers. Unfortunately, she should have used her husbands since she was a homemaker for the majority of her life. She is receiving benefits, but I wonder if there is a way she could change her benefits to use her husband's work history? What would be required to make this change? Thanks
Hi,
She probably wouldn't . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: May 12 2017 - 8:23am
Will The Rate Reduction I Took On My 2nd Husband's Record Apply To Benefits On My 1st Husband's Record?
I have been widowed twice, and am currently unmarried. I am currently receiving survivor benefits from my second husband, which I began taking at 63. If I switch to my first husbands survivor benefit-which most likely is larger (I am now 67 and we were married for 20 years) would they be decreased because I received early benefits from my second husband?
Hi,
No. The entitlements are separate, and any reduction taken on the one record wouldn't carry over to your benefit rate on the other record.
If your benefit rate would be higher on your . . . Read More
Category: Collecting Off Of Two Spouses
Posted: May 12 2017 - 8:14am
