The Benefits Blog

I have someone who was told by SSA that if she took SSA based on her spouse’s record, she would be able to receive $3,000 vs her own record of $2,000 but SSA was unable to verify SSA said she would have to retire first and then come back for the real numbers. 

In this situation, it...

Quick question. I have a client who will be turning 62 in January.  SS retirement benefit is around $750, and she makes around $16,000 a year income. Her ex-husband is deceased. They were married over 30 years. His death PIA is over $3,000 per month. Ex-husband had not filed for SSB before...

Quick question on the spousal boost.  Let’s say wife has a PIA of $1,000 and husband has a PIA of $3,000. Both are same age — wife starts at 62 and husband starts at FRA. My understanding is that when the husband turns on his SSB, the spousal boost happens automatically, but I...

I have an individual that will turn 66 on February 13.  She will reach FRA in August.  If she starts taking SS in August or September, will her benefits be reduced, since she will start in the month of or later of reaching FRA?  I am reading some conflicting reports relating to...

Here is the situation. Dad murdered his wife, and he went to jail and is now out. They have a 4-year-old and the court gave full custody not to the grandparents but to the Great Grandparents. Dad is disabled. Would the great grandparents be entitled to In Care benefits and the child entitled to...

I had a gentleman in a class yesterday with this scenario that I want to confirm with you. He is age 62 and will be 63 in Oct – Birthdate is 10/13/1960. He was married for 15 years and has been divorced 3 years. Neither ex-spouse is remarried. Ex-spouse birthday is 06/27/1973. They have...

I have a potential client who has a 21-year-old with autism and will never be able to work. The question is if one or both parents were to die does any of their benefit go to pay the cost of his care? They both are 60 years old and have saved a good bit of money to be able to retire but they are...

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...

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...

I have a client who has 3 kids under 18 –> 8, 11, 13.  Do you have to claim kids on taxes to be able to claim for SS benefits?  What do those benefits look like for him? His SS benefit at 67 is $2,765.

Your client’s children do not need to be claimed on his tax returns to...