I turned 62 in March of this year and applied for SS benefits. I am working and make $11 an hour @ 40 hours a week. I am told by SS that I will not receive a check until June because I make more than the $1410 a month that is allowed. My monthly benefit is $1293.00 yet they are holding 2 Checks and claim the overage will be paid in Jan 2018. Why can't they reduce my monthly benefit amount to cover the overage? How do they expect people to pay their monthly bills without their money??

Hi,

Larry:

I just turned 62, but will continue working full time until I am 66 and 2 months. My annual W2 is about $200k. My wife is 62 1/2 and does not work. If she file for her benefits now, will my income be included for her earnings test recognizing we file joint married. So, can she keep her monthly check or does it get reduced based on my income?

thx

Ernie

Hi Ernie,

Hi Larry --

I am 66 (don’t work) and my wife turns 62 in three months (she works). I know from past Q&As that if she applies for social security benefits when she turns 62 I can file a restricted application for a spousal benefit based on her work record and defer taking SS benefits on my own work record until I’m 70. If we do this, and my wife continues to work, will what she earns over the annual limit also reduce my spousal benefit even though I’m older than my full retirement age?

Thanks,
Dave

Hi Dave,

I am 62 and will begin taking retirement benefits this year. I have a 14 year old daughter and my wife is 60. Both will be able to begin receiving benefits on my record. The earnings test is not an issue for me (or my daughter) but my wife will continue to work . Will my wife be subject to the earnings test while receiving her child in care benefit (i.e. for 2 years until my daughter turns 16)? If so, and my wife loses some of her benefit, might my daughter's benefit increase if we were being limited by the Family Maximum Benefit?

I was "retired" by my company in March, 2016, at age 65. I had planned on starting social security in May, 2017, at my FRA of 66. I have no earned income from employment since March, 2016, although have had distribution from an IRA. In February, 2017, I received a check from my previous employer for a bonus based off my time with the company in 2016. They withheld Federal, State, and Social Security taxes from the check. Since I am no longer employed by this company, will this amount from my previous employer received in 2017 count toward the Earnings Test for 2017?

Hi! My husband is 62 and pretty much disabled but has been turned down for SSI Disability. He is also on Medicaid as he has severe COPD and Thyroid issues. His Medicaid expires 10/17 and may or may not be renewed. He will start collecting regular Social Security of $1054. in May of this year. My question is: he still works 1 day a week. We need to keep the insurance and cannot afford premiums. Can he continue to work 1 day ($120/Day/Gross), get his SS payment and still have Medicaid or does he have to quit his job to maintain a lower income.

Dear Larry, I will be 62 this October 2017. I have a daughter who will be 6 years old this October. Studying my SS report and conferring with someone at SS, I drafted a comparison of payments that shows me starting my SS benefits at 62 (and 2 months, they tell me) which also triggers a payment equal to 50%-of-that sum to my daughter. To make is simpler, starting in January 2018, I would be getting $16,320/year; and my daughter would be getting $8160/year up until she turns 18.

My husband wants to start taking his soc sec benefits at age 63. We understand he can earn up to $16,920 before his soc sec will be docked accordingly and we understand the income tax ramifications of filing jointly and making more than $44K. I am slightly younger and want to work for 5 more years. Will my earnings affect his soc sec benefit payments?? Can't find the answer anywhere on the soc sec website!

Hi,

I am retired and considering going back to work. Will I forfeit (be cut-off) from my SS monthly benefits should I decide to go back to work?

Janice

Hi Janice,

If you are already age 66 or older, the answer is no. Otherwise, the answer depends on how much you earn, and the type of benefits you are receiving.

Hello. I am a 43 year old widow. My children collect my late husband's social security benefits, presently. Upon filing for SS, I was told that I make too much at my teaching job to collect benefits for myself. (I was informed that the family cap for monthly payment is 3000.00. I would be eligible for the remaining 800.00 after my children were paid if I made less working). I am wondering if you can tell me the amount of earnings I could earn and still qualify for the remaining funds. Thank you!

Hi,