The Benefits Blog

We have a client who called SSA. My primary question is how could the client be getting the exact same amount of Benefit if he files in November compared to filing at FRA this past July. To me it doesn’t make sense but she swears she called three times. Three SSA representatives, and they all said t...

We emphasize SITUATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY in the NSSA® Certificate program, as all of your clients are UNIQUE. Your clients may be single, married with wide age differences, married with narrow age differences, divorced, surviving spouses, eligible to file a Restricted Application, public employees, ...

Quick question regarding SSDI: I have a client whose husband died a few months ago. He was age 59 and she is 60, and they were both collecting SSDI benefits. The SS office called her and told her she’s eligible for an increased benefit based on her deceased husband’s record. Is this correct or is th...

We have a client couple who lived in Canada for several years and then moved to the US and have been living here for the last 10 years. The wife is a Canadian citizen with Canadian work history and Canadian Social Security benefits. She is working in the US and plans to work to get a 10-year work hi...

If a client’s birthday is 8/2/1956, is his FRA effective start date of 66-4 months in December or November?

Full Retirement Age (FRA) is the age at which you become eligible to receive your full Social Security retirement benefits without any reductions. The FRA varies depending on the year of your...

If a person is still working and is paying into TRS (Teacher Retirement System of Texas), they cannot not take spousal or ex-spousal benefits? A new client thinks she can take her ex-spouse benefits while working and not receiving the government pension. She is FRA.

Your new client can indeed take ...

We have a client who is 61 and was recently widowed.  She is still working, and not sure about her official retirement. Can you refresh my memory on how they rectify benefits if she begins collecting and then exceeds the earnings limit? I seem to remember it eventually being adjusted for any months ...

I applied for benefits in December, 2023 at age 68.  A friend turned 67 on January 23rd, 2024.  He will pull his SS shortly; however, he will receive a lump-sum payment of $15,000 for 6-months of Retroactive Benefits. (Marc – Not sure if 6 months is available as retro period cannot precede FRA.)  My...

Client – I’m trying to figure out when we should think about Katie starting to draw a social security. I’m now 70 and have started drawing (I delayed until I reached 70) and she’s now 64 (Date of Birth: 8/18/1959). If she were to file at her full retirement (which would be at 66 years and 10 months ...

One of my FA’s has a client who started taking Social Security benefits at age 62. Her Full Retirement Age is 66 years and 8 months. She was born in 1958 and is currently age 65. She is receiving 1099 income that she is referring to as “deferred comp” from when she was working and being distributed ...