Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

Displaying 8231 - 8240 of 10063 questions.

Would Filing For SSDI Help?

Last week my County insurance was severed because s.s.i. was $16 over the acceptable amount. Yesterday, my food stamps were cut from $168 to $16. Sometime last year my account went over $1200.
I had cancer surgery 11/24/16, take anti seizure, anxiety and depression meds. Is there any way signing up for S.S.D. I. could help? This is an impossible situation!

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear about all of the problems you are having.

In order to be eligible for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI), you must meet an insured status requirement ( . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Apr 13 2017 - 9:45am

Will It Be A Problem That I Worked For A Short Time After Filing For Social Security?

I have more than one question as this stuff is utterly confusing, especially if part of your disability involves issues with thinking but I'll try to make sense here. My first question is, although I was unemployed for over a year and a half before I attempted to try working again 2/17 to March 10th 2017 while waiting to hear back about my initial decision on my disability application 6/2016, will this screw me? 5 days after getting terminated from my job for asking for too many accommodations (but of course they blames the termination on some other factitious reason), I got a . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Apr 13 2017 - 9:15am

What Is The Most That WEP Can Reduce My Benefit Amount?

My WEP offset seems to be rising faster than my monthly SS benefit.
I am trying to decide to start taking benefits in 2017 or to wait until 2018.

Do you know the amount or where I can find the Maximum Monthly Amount my Benefit
May Be Reduced Because Of The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) for 2018?
Thank you, Tom

Hi Tom,

The most that the WEP formula can reduce a person's benefit amount is by 50% of the first 'bend point' that applies for their year of birth. A person's benefit rate is calculated based on 1 to 3 . . . Read More

Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Apr 13 2017 - 7:45am

When Can I Get Benefits On My Deceased Ex-Husband's Record?

Hello, My ex-husband and I were married for 25 years when we divorced 5 years ago. He was on total disability due to illness and recently just passed away. I am not re-married, am 55 years old and work full time. What are my options with his disability benefits? Can I apply for them now or at a later date? Thank you for any guidance. Kathie

Hi Kathie,

Unless you become disabled, you can't get surviving divorced spousal benefits until you are at least age 60, and there is an earnings test that could limit the benefits you could receive until you reach . . . Read More

Category: Divorced Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Apr 12 2017 - 8:00am

Can I Suspend My Retirement Benefits And Get Spousal Benefits Instead?

I turned 63 in dec 2016, I filed to start recieving my own SS benifits when I turned 62, My husband just turned 69 in February and he started his benifits at 66. My ? is can I go back and suspend my benefits and collect spousal instead,the amount is very close to what I now get, and let my benefits acrue till I am 70 or is it too late. I just became aware that being born in 1953 I could have filed that way originally. Hope its not too late to change my mind. Thank You

Hi,

No, you can't suspend your benefits until you reach full retirement age (FRA), . . . Read More

Category: Filing Options
Posted: Apr 12 2017 - 7:45am

Would Cashing Out My 401K Affect My Disability Benefits?

I just turned 62 and I receive SSDI. I live in WV and I want to cash out my $33,000 401k. If I do this, will it affect my SSDI or mine or my 11 year old son's medicaid benefits.

Hi,

My only area of expertise is Social Security, not Medicaid. I can tell you that cashing out your 401K would have no impact on your Social Security disability benefits (SSDI). And, if your son receives child's benefits on your Social Security record, those benefits would not be affected either. You'll need to check with the agency that handles your son's Medicaid to find . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Apr 12 2017 - 7:30am

What Should My Wife And I Do?

Both by my wife and I are working. She is 67(full retirement age) and I am 68. She make more money then I do. She plans to retire at age 68. I will never retire (Artist). We have postponed Social Security Benefits. Should I (lower wage earner) fill for benefits and then suspend? Or wait another year and an half until I man 70? Should my wife wait until she is70 also to file?

Hi,

There wouldn't be any reason for you to file and suspend your benefits, since your wife couldn't receive a spousal benefit on your record while your benefits are in suspense . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Apr 12 2017 - 7:30am

Can I Withdraw The Conversion From Disability To Retirement Benefits At FRA?

I've read your book "Get What's Yours" and i have some questions on how to proceed. have been receiving Social Security Disability benefits for the past 6 years starting at age 60; I will be 66 in June. I went to my Social Security office to withdraw my Social Security benefit before my Disability benefit converts to the Social Security Retirement Benefit in June. So, I filed the form 521 to withdraw. I am doing this because I was married for over 10 years, and I want to start collecting spousal benefits on my ex-husband's work record while I let my own Social Security . . . Read More

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Apr 12 2017 - 7:15am

What Is Our Best Strategy?

Hello Larry, I was born 7/30/60 and my wife 8/16/73, so I am 13 years older than she is. Tama will have a reasonable SS income on her own, but mine will be larger. I imagine that I should wait until 70 to collect SS so that when I die Tama will collect more based on my income, but I am not certain how that works? No matter when I collect, should Tama start collecting a reduced amount at 62, when I am 75? Anyway, the question is, based on our ages, what is the optimal approach to collecting SS? Thanks so much! Joe

Hi Joe,

Yes, it would probably be best . . . Read More

Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Apr 12 2017 - 7:00am

Will My Benefit Amount Go Up Or Down When I Turn 62?

I have been on disability since 2009,on may 9th I will turn 62, will my benefits go up or down?

Hi,

Neither. If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits (SSDI), your benefit rate won't change when you turn age 62. Barring a change in your status, you will continue to receive SSDI until you reach full retirement age. At that time, your disability benefits will convert to regular Social Security retirement benefits at the same monthly rate as your SSDI.

Best, Jerry

Category: Disability Benefits
Posted: Apr 11 2017 - 8:00am
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