Ask Larry

I am 63 years old and lost my first husband almost 10 years ago when he was only 54 years old . He had received disability benefits during the last year of his life. After his death I received survivors benefit. I remarried at age 57 and my survivors benefit of course stopped coming in. My current husband is 74 and has been collecting SS since age 65. Given his age and his health condition I will most likely lose him as well in the not too far future. I have to think practical. My question: should I start drawing my own SS now ( which would only be $340 a month) and can I, when I am widowed a second time switch to the higher survivor benefit of the two? I am pretty sure that my first husband's will be higher....

Hi. Filing for your own benefits now certainly could turn out to be a good strategy, but you would then be stuck with a reduced monthly benefit rate for as long as your current husband is living. Also, if you're still working and if you'll earn more than $21,240 this year then some or all of your benefits may need to be withheld due to the Social Security earnings test.

Your optimal filing strategy depends on a number of different factors, so you should strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully compare and analyze all of your options so that you can determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry

Thanks for the below Jerry

Does that mean that my wife's UK state Pension will not be used in any WEP calculations. Only my State pension and my PIA will affect her benefit?

"Hello Larry
Both my wife and I worked in the US for a while. My wife did not pay enough SS contributions to be eligible for SS benefits. I however paid full contributions and am currently receiving SS benefits and my wife is also receiving SS benefits as a spouse based on my contributions. We are both coming up to UK State pension age and I understand this will trigger the WEP and will reduce my SS benefits. Our question is will my wife's UK pension affect her spousal SS benefits due to WEP
Thanks
Hi. No. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) only affects Social Security retirement and disability (SSDI) benefits, not spousal or survivor benefits. However, since unreduced spousal benefits are calculated based on 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount (PIA), if your PIA is reduced due to WEP that will also cause your wife's spousal benefit rate to be reduced.
Best, Jerry?

Hi Again. Yes. Your wife's UK pension could only be used in a WEP calculation if she qualified for a U.S. Social Security retirement or disability benefit based on her own U.S. earnings. Her UK pension won't have any effect on either your U.S. Social Security benefits nor any U.S. spousal or survivor benefits for which your wife may qualify.

By the way, our software is fully programmed to handle WEP calculations, so you should strongly consider using the software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully compare and analyze all of your options so that you can determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry

Thanks for the below Jerry

Does that mean that my wife's UK state Pension will not be used in any WEP calculations. Only my State pension and my PIA will affect her benefit?

"Hello Larry
Both my wife and I worked in the US for a while. My wife did not pay enough SS contributions to be eligible for SS benefits. I however paid full contributions and am currently receiving SS benefits and my wife is also receiving SS benefits as a spouse based on my contributions. We are both coming up to UK State pension age and I understand this will trigger the WEP and will reduce my SS benefits. Our question is will my wife's UK pension affect her spousal SS benefits due to WEP
Thanks
Hi. No. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) only affects Social Security retirement and disability (SSDI) benefits, not spousal or survivor benefits. However, since unreduced spousal benefits are calculated based on 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount (PIA), if your PIA is reduced due to WEP that will also cause your wife's spousal benefit rate to be reduced.
Best, Jerry?

Hi Again. Yes. Your wife's UK pension could only be used in a WEP calculation if she qualified for a U.S. Social Security retirement or disability benefit based on her own U.S. earnings. Her UK pension won't have any effect on either your U.S. Social Security benefits nor any U.S. spousal or survivor benefits for which your wife may qualify.

By the way, our software is fully programmed to handle WEP calculations, so you should strongly consider using the software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully compare and analyze all of your options so that you can determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry

My ex husband and I divorc d in 1994. He remarried. I did not. His wife died. He currently is not married. I collect my own SS benefit. I'm 72. We both are retired. My question is : can I collect From his SS benefit?

Hi. Your ex-spouse's marital status is irrelevant when determining your eligibility for divorced spousal benefits. As long as he's living, though, the only way that you could qualify for divorced spousal benefits is if your primary insurance amount (PIA) is less than half as much as your ex's PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA). If you're unsure about how your PIA compares with your ex's PIA, you can file an application for divorced spousal benefits to get a formal determination of your eligibility.

If your ex dies before you and assuming that you were married to him for at least 10 years, you could potentially qualify for survivor benefits on his account if your survivor rate is higher than your own benefit rate. Your potential survivor rate would amount to the higher of a) 100% of your ex's gross monthly Social Security retirement benefit rate, or b) 82.5% of his PIA. You couldn't be paid both your own benefit rate and a full survivor benefit, though, just the higher of the two amounts.

Best, Jerry

Larry, if I draw at FRA 66 & 4 months and continue to work full time, will those years count toward my 35 year average.

Hi. Yes, but only if you earn enough to increase your benefit rate. Social Security retirement benefits are based on an average of a person's highest 35 years of Social Security covered wage-indexed earnings, so additional years of earnings only increase a person's benefit rate if they're higher than one or more of the 35 years currently being used to calculate the person's benefit rate.

Before claiming benefits you should strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully compare and analyze all of your options so that you can determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry

Ever since my husband retired, I've been receiving Medicare benefits along with HNE insurance.
I have always been billed quarterly.
This past December, I received a bill for my January clverage.
And I just received a bill for my February coverage.
I called to find outvwhy , after almost 15 years my payment coverage KS changing.
I did not receive an adequate explanation.
Are able to help.

Thank you
Louise

Hi Louise. I'm sorry, but I can't explain why your billing schedule would have changed. Part B Medicare premiums are billed quarterly unless a person also pays premiums for Part A of Medicare or if their Part B premiums are being withheld from their benefit payments. The following Medicare website lists the phone number to call if you have with billing questions: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/pay-premiums.

Best, Jerry

Hi, this question is really getting into the weeds !! Let's say I file for benefits early and am collecting 75% of my You appPIA. I die a few years later. My widow would have a floor of 82.5% of my PIA at her survivor FRA, so would want to wait until at least 62 1/2 to reach that percentage. Now the question - what if my benefit had increased through COLA's to an amount that was now 85% of my PIA, would she now have a floor of 85% rather than 82.5% even though my initial filing was at 75% ?? Thanks a lot.

Hi. It appears as though you're mistaken on how Social Security cost of living (COLA) increases are applied. Any Social Security COLAs that occur after you start drawing Social Security retirement benefits are applied to both your PIA and benefit rate. So, assuming that you start out drawing at a reduced rate of 75% of your PIA and unless some of your benefits are subsequently withheld due to your earnings or are voluntarily suspended, your benefit rate would always amount to 75% of your PIA.

For example, say Bob has a PIA of $1000, but starts drawing his benefits at age 63 at a rate of 75% of his PIA, or $750. After Bob starts drawing benefits, there is a Social Security COLA of 10%. That would then raise Bob's PIA to $1100 (i.e. $1000 x 1.10), and his reduced benefit rate would increase to $825 (i.e. 75% of $1100). Thus, Bob's reduced benefit rate would remain at 75% of his PIA regardless of how many COLAs occur after he starts drawing benefits.

However, if Bob's reduced benefit rate at death had increased to more than 82.5% of his PIA because some of his benefits were withheld due to the Social Security earnings test or because he voluntarily suspended his benefits between full retirement age (FRA) and age 70, his widow could be paid up to as much as Bob's higher reduced benefit rate.

Best, Jerry

My husband does not have enough work credits to qualify for Medicare Part A and turns 65 in April. I do, but do not turn 65 until 2030. Does he qualify for free Part A through my work credits?

Hi. Not right away, at least unless you're drawing Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. In order for your spouse to qualify for premium free Part A of Medicare based on your Social Security contributions, you must be at least age 62 or be drawing SSDI benefits.

However, assuming that your husband is a U.S. citizen or a was legally admitted for U.S. residency for at least the last 5 years he could apply for premium Part A and/or Part B of Medicare. Whether or not he should do so likely depends on whether or not he has health insurance coverage through your employment (https://www.medicare.gov/sites/default/files/2021-10/02179-Medicare-and-other-health-benefits-your-guide-to-who-pays-first.pdf). The instructions for applying for Medicare can be found on the following Social Security website: https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up.

Best, Jerry

I reach FRA in December of this year. (born 6.25.57). I've been told that I can apply for SS benefits any time this calendar year and not be penalized. In other words, can I apply now for SS and begin receiving it immediately OR do I have to wait until I actually reach FRA?

I am still working at the moment and intend to continue to work but I'm told that once I reach FRA it won't matter.

Hi. That depends on how much you'll earn this year prior to the month you reach full retirement age (FRA). If you apply for benefits now, Social Security would need to withhold $1 of your benefits for every $3 that you earn in excess of $56,520 from January 1 through November 30 of this year. So, unless you'll earn less than that amount you wouldn't be able to start collecting benefits immediately.

Furthermore, what you were apparently told about filing for benefits now without being penalized isn't accurate. If you start drawing your Social Security retirement benefits prior to the month you reach FRA your benefit rate will be reduced by 5/9ths of 1% for each month that you start collecting benefits early. And, if you're married, drawing your benefits early could cause your surviving spouse to receive a lower widow(er) benefit rate if you die before them.

Before filing for benefits, you should strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully compare and analyze all of your options so that you can determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry

Hello Larry

Both my wife and I worked in the US for a while. My wife did not pay enough SS contributions to be eligible for SS benefits. I however paid full contributions and am currently receiving SS benefits and my wife is also receiving SS benefits as a spouse based on my contributions. We are both coming up to UK State pension age and I understand this will trigger the WEP and will reduce my SS benefits. Our question is will my wife's UK pension affect her spousal SS benefits due to WEP

Thanks

Hi. No. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) only affects Social Security retirement and disability (SSDI) benefits, not spousal or survivor benefits. However, since unreduced spousal benefits are calculated based on 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount (PIA), if your PIA is reduced due to WEP that will also cause your wife's spousal benefit rate to be reduced.

Best, Jerry