Ask Larry: Questions and Answers | Maximize My Social Security

Displaying 8091 - 8100 of 10063 questions.

Would My New Wife Be Able To Receive Benefits On My Record?

I am 73, presently drawing SS. My wife died late in 2014. I am considering a marriage with a foreign national.
1. If we do become husband and wife, and I predecease her, will she be entitled to my SS benefits? (Monthly benefit;, medical benefits, as a dependent?)
a. If yes, under what conditions?
b. Is there a time period prior to her being able to receive benefits?

Hi,

The answer to your questions depends on your potential wife's age, immigration status, and residency. At a minimum, you would likely need to be married for at . . . Read More

Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: May 5 2017 - 9:58am

Will My Retiring Cause My Wife To Lose Some Of Her Benefits?

My wife receives disability {SSDI] and I am reaching retirement age. I have worked with a handicap all my life and have remained active, but now it is beginning to make it hard to continue my active job and so I am considering retiring at 62. Will my retiring make my wife loose some of her income?

Hi,

No, your retirement wouldn't have any effect on your wife's Social Security disability benefits.

Best, Jerry

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: May 5 2017 - 9:54am

Can I File And Suspend And Still Receive Spousal Benefits?

I will turn 66 on 6/11/2017 and my wife turns 66 on 6/24/2018. We both plan to file and suspend at 66 in order to reap the 8%/year bonus until we reach 70.

After I turn 66, may I "file and restrict" to receive spousal benefits from my wife's account, or must I wait to file for spousal benefits until she files and suspends at 66.

If, when my wife turns 66, I am receiving spousal benefits, can she also file and restrict to receive spousal benefits from my account?

If only one of us can receive spousal benefits, is it correct to assume the spouse with the . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: May 5 2017 - 9:05am

Will My Retirement Benefit Go Up Or Down If I Work Past Age 70?

I will turn 70 on December 25, 2017. I work at Northwestern University and intend to continue working until our new University Center opens - hopefully by 2020. I am in decent health, and love the work that I do. I have asked this question of Social Security and I never get a straight answer. Whatever the dollar amount that I would receive if I retired at 70, if I keep working beyond 70, will that dollar amount remain the same? Or do the taxes that I would pay Social Security make the dollar amount go down? Will I continue to accrue Social Security quarters by continuing to . . . Read More

Category: Retirement Benefits
Posted: May 4 2017 - 10:59pm

What Should We Do?

My husband visited the SS office this morning. He turns 64 in June, 2017. Using your tool, we determined that the right strategy for us, was a start, stop, start method. We have kids under 18 also. The question is this. The folks at SS insisted that start stop start is no longer an option (I guess since 2015 changes) and no one is allowed to do this. We partly anticipated that from others on this Q&A page, so he even brought in an FAQ from the SSA site that indicated you were allowed to do this. They insisted (this was a supervisor), that is not allowed. The only thing they . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: May 4 2017 - 10:46pm

Will My Mother's Last Check Have To Be Paid Back?

My mom passed away on the 14th of the month, will her SS benefits for that month have to be paid back

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

The check that your mother received in the month of her death was for the prior month, and that check would not have to be paid back. However, she would not be due a check for the month of her death, which is the payment that would normally have been paid in the month after she died.

Best, Jerry

Category: Payment Dates
Posted: May 4 2017 - 10:40pm

Do You Have Any Idea Why My Grandmother's Benefits Were Reduced?

I try to help my 96 year old grandmother with her financial matters as best I can from a distance. Last year her combined social security check was adjusted downward about $100/mo. She collects on herself and her deceased husband. I have not seen any paper work but was told this was an adjustment due to her gross income. She reports about $100K+ gross income a year from investment income and a City Retirement Pension Income from her deceased husband. She just told me that the retirement pension check which she has been receiving has now been reduced about $500 monthly with no . . . Read More

Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: May 4 2017 - 10:29pm

Can My Husband File For Spousal Benefits Only, Then Switch To His Own Record Before Age 70?

If my husband(age 67) has been getting a spousal benefit from my social security, let's say, for only a couple months(thinking he would wait until age 70 to get maximum benefit for himself) and circumstances change and we find it would be better for him to file for his own benefit earlier than age 70 can that be done? I guess I am asking: Is there is any penalty for changing the plan so soon after setting up the first? Or: Does the SS office have a "time" limit on a re-file? I hope I am explain this so you understand. Thank you.

Hi,

Yes, your husband . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: May 4 2017 - 10:20pm

Should I File Now Or Wait?

I'm 60yo & still working. I may work for another 2-5 years. My ex-husband of 15 years just died at age 68. He was collecting social security at full age of 66. I found out that I'm able to collect on his SS now, but is that wise? He was a VP & made more money than I do so I'm sure his SS is higher than mine will be. So questions are:
-should I collect his SS now while I'm working? or wait until I retire?
-should I wait until I'm 66 to collect on his & then switch to mine at 70?
-Even though I'd love to retire asap, I can wait until I'm 66 if . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: May 4 2017 - 8:58am

Can I Apply For Just Spousal Benefits On My Husband's Record?

Question regarding disability spousal benefits
Hello, My husband has been on SSDI for 20 years. He will turn 65 this month and I will be 65 in July. Can I just apply for my spousal benefit based on his SSDI even though we are not yet 66 or will I be deemed and have to take my own benefit as well.
Thank you
Phyllis

Hi Phyllis,

Your husband's age isn't pertinent to your question. It you were born prior to January 2 1954, you can file for spousal benefits only at age 66 and allow your own benefit rate to grow until age 70. If you . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: May 4 2017 - 8:48am

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!