Why Can't I Get Spousal Benefits?
I do not have 40 quarters (and retired on WEP) so i applied on my husband. i am over 67 and so is my husband and he is drawing $380+- with WEP. I was told my check would be under $100 a month and therefore they did not have to pay me . ??? not that i had not met the other requirements.
Hi,
I'm not sure that I understand your question, but it sounds like you are receiving a pension based on work where you did not pay Social Security taxes. If your non-covered pension is from a federal, state or local government agency in the U.S., you would be subject . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Apr 7 2017 - 5:30am
Am I Entitled To My Late Husband's Social Security?
Hi, I was married 25 years when my husband unexpectedly passed. I was a stay at home momma raising 3 children. My SS will be very little at the time I'm able to collect it. My question am I entiteled to my late husbands SS? What about if I were to marry again one day, then would I be entitled ?
Thank you for your help
Missy
Hi Missy,
I'm sorry for your loss.
You could become eligible for widow's benefits as early as age 60, or even at age 50 if you're disabled. Unless you're disabled, your best filing strategy is likely one of . . . Read More
Category: Widow's Benefits
Posted: Apr 6 2017 - 6:00am
Which Information Is Correct?
I am 67 and started collecting last year. My wife will be 66 in July and will start collecting. We were told by SS that she can collect half of mine and defer taking hers until she is 70. We were told that this applies to anyone born before 1953. SS is now telling us that this is false.
Hi,
What you were initially told is correct, except that this option applies to people born prior to January 2 1954, rather than 1953 (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/deemedfaq.html). Filing for . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Apr 6 2017 - 5:45am
Can My Wife File For Reduced Retirement Benefits At Age 62 And Get A Full 50% Of My Benefit At FRA?
My birth date is Aug 7,1949 and my wife's birth date is Jan 3, 1958. I was on SS Disability as I turned 66. As my benefit was changing from disability to regular SS at age 66, I suspended it, waiting until I reach 70 to resume benefits.
My question is can my wife start collecting her SS at age 62 (which is a very small amount) and then at her full retirement age of 66 yrs and 8 Months change over to Spousal Benefits and collect 50% of my SS. I have both of your SS books, the first one and the revised one but still can not figure this out. THANKS
Hi, . . . Read More
Category: Filing Strategies
Posted: Apr 5 2017 - 8:00am
Have My Wife And I Been Underpaid?
My wife and I are 77 and 78, respectively. We believe we have been underpaid for over 12 years. We both individually qualify for SS benefits. This is all historical and I have everything (?) in an Excel spreadsheet that I would be more than willing to share with you or one of your associates. In 2002, my wife filed and began receiving reduced benefits on her account. Her full retirement benefits would have been available in October 2005 (65+6 mos). I did not apply for any benefits on her account or mine until my full retirement date which was August 2004. On multiple occasions . . . Read More
Category: Filing Options
Posted: Apr 5 2017 - 7:15am
Would Applying For Medicare Prevent My Wife From Later Filing A Restricted Application For Spousal Benefits Only?
My wife is turning 65 in April, 2017. She is still working for an employer with over 20 employees, is covered by a good group health plan, but figures she should sign up for the free Medicare Part A coverage, obviously under her own account.
A year from now, at age 66, she wishes to file for social security benefits, but wishes to restrict her application to spousal benefits under my account (just a couple of dollars less than they would be under her own account), but in so doing let her account continue to grow to age 70 at which point she would switch over to her own . . . Read More
Category: Medicare
Posted: Apr 5 2017 - 7:00am
How Will Our Benefits Be Affected By By Non-Covered State Pension?
Larry,
I am a state employee in a non social security state and also work part time in the private sector. In a couple of years when I retire, my social security earnings will exceed 30 years with about 15 years of substantial earnings. How will this affect my social security benefit? My wifes social when she retires will be greater than mine as she will have 30+ years of substantial SS earnings. Will her SS be reduced after my death when she receives my survivor benefit (2/3 of my pension)?
Thank you
Hi,
If you receive a government . . . Read More
Category: Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO
Posted: Apr 5 2017 - 6:30am
Will My Medicare Premiums Be Automatically Deducted From My Benefits?
I will soon turn 66 and plan to file a restricted application for benefits on my 74 year old husband's work record. Will my Medicare premium be automatically deducted from the social security check, or will Medicare send me premium bills? With regard to paying Medicare premium bills, what is the safest method--personal check, money order, credit card, on-line bill pay through my bank, or having Medicare deduct the premium electronically from my checking account? Which is the best way to ensure that the payment is likely to be received and recorded timely?
Hi . . . Read More
Category: Medicare
Posted: Apr 4 2017 - 3:00pm
Can My Wife Collect Spousal Benefits At Full Retirement Age?
I was on ssdi until I reached fra in Nov 2016 now on ssi of 2350 so I can't suspend without paying my ssdi back. My spouse is on ssdi recieving 850 and will reach fra in nov 2020. When reaching fra can my spouse colect spousal off my record.
Hi,
Yes, if 50% of your full retirement age rate (PIA) is higher than her disability rate, your wife could be eligible for additional spousal benefits on your record. She could start drawing the spousal benefits as early as age 62, but her benefit rate would be reduced if she did so. If she waits until full . . . Read More
Category: Spousal Benefits
Posted: Apr 4 2017 - 7:00am
Can My Mother Receive Benefits On My Father's Record?
My mother is 81 years old, lives in Queens NY, married my father in Freeport NY 1961. My parents separated approximately in 1992, my father moved to Hamlet NC. My parents officially divorced in 2004. My father remarried in 2006. While still married to his 2nd wife my father passed away on February 29th 2016. Can my mother, his ex wife collect my father's SS since they were married for so many years? My mother his 1st wife began collecting SS when she was 65.
Hi,
Potentially, yes. The fact that another spouse is already drawing widow's benefits on . . . Read More
Category: Divorced Widow(er) Benefits
Posted: Apr 4 2017 - 6:45am