Ask Larry

Spousal Benefits

Why Is My Husband Having Problems Receiving Spousal Benefits?

I am a US citizen on Social Security Disability since 2010; My husband is British and we married in 2007. I was always on the mindset that my husband would be entitled to spousal benefits. I asked again in December 2020 and received a reply that he was indeed entitled to them (he is 65, 66 this year). The message asked for a few simple questions, told me to reply with the answers, and they'd take it from there. I replied the same day and haven't ever received another message! I've emailed repeatedly for a response, even Facebook messages! and nothing.

Posted: 
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - 19:16

If My Wife And I Get Divorced Or Separate, Will My Wife Still Be Able To Claim Spousal Benefits?

Hi Larry:
I will be 70 in Sept of 2021. My wife will be 74 in Aug 2021. I have not claimed SS yet, my wife has no errand credits on her own so will only be able to claim spousal benefits. We were married Nov 2014. If we get divorced or separate before I turn 70, will my wife be able to claim spousal benefits? If we get divorced or separate after I start collecting SS and my wife starts spousal benefits but less than 10 years of marriage, will my wife lose her spousal benefit? Thank You.
Craig

Posted: 
Saturday, May 15, 2021 - 20:23

Should My Wife Get A Job So That She Can Draw On Her Own Account?

According to her account report from SSI, my wife is one credit short (39 out of 40) to be able to draw social security on her own account. (She has been a homemaker most of her life, so has not reported any taxable income for many years). The questions are these:
1) Should she get a job so that she can earn the required taxable income (+/- $1500) so that she can draw on her own account? Or can she draw on my account as my spouse?

Posted: 
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - 19:45

Is There A Downside To My Husband Applying For Spousal Benefits?

Larry, thank you for taking my question. My husband is currently 69 years old and collecting full social security benefits. I am 63 years old and will continue to work until full retirement age 66.8 years. Is there a downside to my husband applying for social security spousal benefits? Will this in any way affect my applying for social security benefits when I reach full retirement age? Thank you, Tina

Posted: 
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - 09:02

How Will My Wife's Benefits Be Adjusted If She Files For Reduced Benefits And Some Of Her Benefits Are WIthheld?

If my spouse elects to collect Social Security at 62 on her own work record but continues to work creating a holdback from SS payments over $19k earnings, and then when I retire at 67, she collects 50% of my SS payments (she will be 68 at that time). I understand that normally her early retirement penalty will be adjusted by the amount of months held back by SS, how will her monthly payment be adjusted to recover the held back payments if her monthly payments and my spousal top off payment cant exceed 50% of my SS monthly payment?

Posted: 
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 - 15:21

If I Die, Can My Wife Continue To Draw Spousal Benefits And Wait Until Her FRA To File For Survivor Benefits?

Hi Larry,

If my wife is collecting a Spousal Benefit on my record, & I die, can she continue receiving her Spousal Benefit & wait to apply for her Survivor Benefit until she reaches her Survivor FRA, to maximize her benefit?

Thank you

Posted: 
Tuesday, May 11, 2021 - 15:01

What Benefits Can The Gal I'm Living Receive?

I’ve been living with the same gal for over 10 years. She doesn’t think she has enough quarters for social security. I have and have been collecting SSDI For 3years which will switch to Social Security when I’m 66 and 2 months. Nobody else has a claim to my Social Security and I assumed she would be eligible for 1/2 my $2750 if nothing else. Please advise

Posted: 
Sunday, May 9, 2021 - 15:15

Which PIAs Are Used To Calculate Spousal Benefits?

Is the PIA that is used for each spouse in computing whether a 50% spousal benefit is greater than the lower spouse's own benefit set once or is it indexed for when the relative computation is made? For example, lower paid spouse begins taking SS benefits based upon their own work history at age 63 1/2. Higher paid spouse is 2 years older and wants to delay taking their SS benefits until lower paid spouse reaches their FRA of 66 and 4 months so as to maximize the spousal benefit, since it will be larger than lower paid spouse's own benefit at that point.

Posted: 
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 - 09:39
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