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TheĀ Benefits Blog

The Benefits Blog provides expert insights, updates, and strategies on Social Security and Medicare, tailored for financial professionals looking to enhance their knowledge and better serve their clients. Stay informed with the latest developments and tips to maximize benefits for your clients.

Widow Benefits: Timing Your Claim for Maximum Benefits deemed filing full retirement age (fra) hey marc! surviving spouse widow benefit Sep 13, 2024

I have a client that we are working with who has questions about her widow benefit. The husband passed away, and the wife is age 58 and is eligible to receive a widow’s benefit at age 60. Her FRA is 67. I looked back on the NSSA training and found that deemed filing does NOT apply....

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Impact of Ohio SERS Lump Sum Distribution on Social Security Benefits government pension offset (gpo) hey marc! sers windfall elimination provision (wep) Sep 05, 2024

We have a client that is getting some advice from Ohio SERS regarding a lump sum distribution and its impact on her SSA benefits that I am not sure that I agree with. SERS is advising that she retire early to get the lump sum out prior to her benefit eligibility date.  They are claiming if...

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Top Social Security Myths Debunked for Retirees hey marc! Sep 02, 2024

I am delivering a SS presentation at our firm’s annual holiday client brunch (500 people – mostly retired and approaching retirement age). I would like to design a “MYTH BUSTERS” style presentation around SS. If you have a moment, what are the top SS MYTHS that I can...

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Can a Disabled Spouse Qualify for a Spousal Benefit Boost While Receiving SSDI? hey marc! spousal benefits Aug 30, 2024

Scenario is a married couple where the husband is working, and the wife, age 63, is unable to work and currently receiving $300/month from SSDI. Can the disabled spouse qualify for a spousal benefit from the husband’s PIA?

Assuming her husband begins his retirement benefit, the disabled...

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Restricted Application on a Divorced Spouse's Record divorce ex-spousal benefit hey marc! restricted applications Aug 23, 2024

I know in the NSSA® class in Kansas City you said that someone could still do a Claim and Suspend (really means Restricted Application!) on a Divorced spouse. I think I had it come up recently at a SS workshop, asking if a person could do a Restricted application on a Divorced spouse.

Yes, a...

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Issues Downloading XML Files from SSA.gov: What to Do? hey marc! Aug 21, 2024

I have a client who is unable to download his XML files from SSA.gov.  He currently has filed for, and was approved for, disability benefits due to start in February (although he did just get a call saying his claim was rejected – that might be a whole other issue!).  Anyhow, I...

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Why a Spousal Benefit May Not Apply if Your Own Social Security Benefit Is Higher full retirement age (fra) hey marc! primary insurance amount (pia) spousal benefit boost spousal benefits Jul 26, 2024

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...

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Can You Buy Social Security Credits? hey marc! social security credits Jun 21, 2024

Someone asked me if his wife could buy credits to hit the 40 needed for social security. Is that a thing? Seems unrealistic to me and everything I’ve read suggests that is incorrect.

No, Social Security credits cannot be purchased. Credits are earned only through income from work. The...

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Challenges with Social Security Spousal Benefits: What to Do Next full retirement age (fra) hey marc! spousal benefits Jun 13, 2024

My sister was a stay-at-home mom. She has planned to take half of her husband’s SS benefit when she got to FRA. You told me she should go to the SS Office. She did that today and they informed her that they have not done spousal benefits for 3 years. They told her to sign up on her own...

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Switching from Retirement Benefits to Survivor Benefits for a Divorced Spouse divorce full retirement age (fra) hey marc! primary insurance amount (pia) surviving divorced spouse benefit Jun 04, 2024

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...

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