The Benefits Blog

Do you know if Social Security requires when a spouse dies that the surviving spouse has to present a marriage certificate to SS to receive survivor benefits?

If the spouse had received any benefits from the deceased individuals record prior to his death a marriage certificate is not needed.  If sh...

I recently received my NSSA Advisor certificate and I have a client that has a question about social security. The client is 69 and his wife is 74. He plans to take his social security at 70. With the Restricted Application is she able to switch and file on her spouse’s benefits?

In this situation,...

I have client that is asking questions about her 61-year-old father.  Apparently he had an emergency quadruple bypass back in May. She wants to know if he’s able to claim social security disability or will he have to wait once he turns 62 in December? Also, what happens if he goes back to work?

You...

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, ...

My client is needing to get income now (64 years old) and just applied for SS.  He plans on working and making under the $22,000 amount so he does not subject himself to the earnings test.  If he applies for disability and is accepted, will he get bumped up to his full PIA?

Yes, if your client appl...

Do you know that every one of your clients has a unique Social Security situation? As an advisor, it is crucial to understand the specific questions and issues that pertain to each client. The National Social Security Advisor (NSSA®) Certificate program focuses on Situational Social Security—helping...

Had a client inquire on behalf of a neighbor who recently lost her husband to COVID. The surviving spouse was told by SS that she in entitled to receive her SS benefit AND his because he died from COVID and they have been paying her both benefits since April.  My bet is that someone at SS made a mis...

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...

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise in today’s meeting.  I just wanted to follow up with a quick note to see if you’d been able to determine the name of the form or report I would have clients ask for when they go into the office (or call in) that details their potential survivor...

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...