The Benefits Blog

Have the benefits on the Social Security statement been adjusted for the 8.7% COLA?

Yes, the Social Security benefit statements have been adjusted to include the most recent 8.7% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This means that the benefit amounts shown on the statements reflect the increase provi...

I read an article that says that someone with a military background, mostly National Guard or Reserve forces, are eligible for additional SS wage credits added to their earnings record.

This was new to me but what I found was it looks like there was legislation passed in 2022 regarding Postal worke...

I have a question about starting retirement benefits after FRA. I understand that if someone turns 68 in February 2023 and they start benefits any time after FRA month in 2023, then the monthly benefit amount will not increase for DRCs. Individual will only receive his/her PIA. For example, if you d...

I have a married female client Annette born 6/1958, who is undergoing 8 week spinal treatment and then possible back surgery.  The doctors are saying this has a 50% chance of success.  If she cannot work due to this pain, what is the best approach or process for filing for Disability?  Is getting an...

We have a client in Texas that is an educator, paying into the Texas State Teachers Retirement fund. She is planning to retire in 2025 and is being told by an advisor in Texas that if she takes a refund of her retirement account and makes a planned move to Arizona after retirement, this severs her s...

A woman referred to me whose husband passed in November at age 46. She is also age 46. She is scheduled to collect SS for her two kids ages 11,13. She isn’t currently working. She will go back in 2023.  Will her earnings affect the SS her children receive?

In this situation, the woman's earnings wi...

Hope all is well. I have a case that I’m working on right now where I’m trying to estimate a clients social security benefit. Could you possibly help point me in the right direction. Here’s info about the client

• She just turned age 65 and is divorced (divorce happened more than 2 years ago) and...

My sister-in-law turned 66 on August 15, 2022 and will reach full retirement age on December 15. She is currently in a residential Mental health facility but will be released tomorrow. She has not applied for Social Security benefits and the psychiatrist is telling her to apply for Social Security d...

If someone is planning on filing at the FRA and their FRA is March 6, 2023, should they file before that date or on that date? When would their first check be received?

When someone reaches their Full Retirement Age (FRA) on March 6, 2023, they should ideally file for their Social Security benefits...

We have a client who filed and started receiving his benefits about a year ago.  His wife is going to now apply for hers, as she will be 62 this year. His benefit at FRA is more than 2xs hers at her FRA. They are applying online.  As they go through the app process online, there is no link or sectio...