Since my husband's as has been cut because of windfall elimination, can he collect more if he gets SS as my spouse

Hi,

Hi Larry,
My husband recently turned 70 and, finally, applied for Social Security. His payment is supposed to be $789. When he was 65, he applied for his Canadian pension in the amount of $455 U.S. Now Social Security is telling us his payment will only be $320. Even with WEP, this seems drastic. He only had 4 out of 17 years of substantial earnings. We have read that his WEP reduction should be no more than 40 or 50 per cent of his Canadian payment(1/2 of $455.) Help!
Thank You,
MK

Hi MK,

Hi Larry I will be turning 66 in March 2017 I went to the social security office where I live and applied for my social security, I was honest with my answers and when asked am I getting another pension from another country I said a small one from Canada, the agent said she would have to take that off what I am going to get I don't think that is fair seeing as though I have filed and paid taxes in both countries and paid into both Canada pension plan and social security for 36 years what can I do so they give me what I have put in

Hi,

Thank you for answering my question 10 days ago. Now I have a more 'arcane' question for you that was brought up during a visit to the SSI office. I taught a long term sub for a local school district that participates with the Colorado PERA rather than SSI. I turned 62 on 12/5. I do not plan to teach again in Colorado. If I take the lump sum of $2087 now (I am not currently taking SSI, but may file next year) PERA will match at 50%. If I wait to 65, PERA will match 100%, but I will certainly be taking SSI at that time.

I am a teacher in Georgia and I have 30 years that some social security was taken out. SS was not taken out the past 5 years and I will be 62 in May. I am also entailed to receive half on my ex-husbands benefit which will be more than mine, if I choose. Since I have at least 30 years of work where SS was taken out, will my benefit be reduced by the GPO and Windfall Tax?

Hi,

I am turning 70 and retired. I have been collecting SS benefits since I reached my full retirement age (66). My wife and I have been married for 2 years. She is a Hungarian citizen and permanent resident of the US since 2015. She is turning 63 in 2017. She will begin receiving a foreign pension from Hungary beginning this year (2017). She has some SS credits (about 7) from consulting work performed in 2014 and 2015. She may earn a few more credits between now and her "full US retirement age" of 66 in 2020.

Hi Larry,

I am 61 and currently work for the state of Colorado and must pay into our PERA program. I have not worked 35 years total (stay at home mom). I only have 8 years with PERA, which is subject to WEP. I have a divorced spouse who is currently receiving SS benefits and to whom I was married for 17 years so can file for his benefits. My question is what is the best strategy with this scenario to maximize my benefits? Collect his benefit, liquidate my PERA account (which will not pay much even if I stay until I am 70).

My wife has a local government pension from her years working as a teacher, and the pension has survivor benefits. I know her social security benefit is reduced by her pension. But if she dies before me, and I receive her pension survivor's benefit, will my own individual social security retirement benefit be reduced? In other words, if I receive her pension's survivor benefit, is it seen the same way as if I had my own earned pension benefit? Thanks.

Hi,

My wife has a 401a government pension. She paid no Social Security tax for the 17 years on that job. If she retires and dose not draw a benefit until she has to do the rmd at 70, can she receive 50 % of my Social Security from 62 to 70. Then at 70 when we have to draw , and the GPO kicks in effect.
Thank you , Mark

Hi Mark,