The Benefits Blog

If a client starts the SS widow benefit before her FRA and continues to work, is the benefit reduced for earnings over the limit?

Yes, if a client begins receiving Social Security widow benefits before reaching her Full Retirement Age (FRA) and continues to work, her benefits are indeed subject to ...

I have a client who is going to be 65 in Jan. She’s divorced and no longer speaks to her ex. He’s an immigrant, but has worked long enough to get SS and is a little older.  He is already receiving his benefit. Let’s say his benefit is $1,000 per month and she’s entitled to 50%.  If she claims off ex...

A divorced client was married to her husband for 25 years. He is 25 years older and neither of them ever remarried. He passed recently and she would like to know if she can claim a “Survivor Benefit”.  She is now 62 and eligible for a benefit of her own of $1,916 at her FRA. 

Your client, who is 62...

I have a client who is 62 and thinking of retiring and taking Social Security.  Her husband is 74 and waited until 70 to collect his retirement benefits.  They want to maximize her SS when he passes away.

She has worked and earned enough credits to collect off her own record at 62.  If she goes ahe...

I have a question for you. As you know, my Social Security payments are starting this month (about $3,500/month).  I am considering retiring from my job with the county and being re-hired, hopefully at the same rate I make now, about $85,000/year. If I am re-hired, would that affect the amount I rec...

If a widow has her FRA for retirement benefits and FRA for survivor benefits in the same calendar year, then she must use the latter of the two (FRA for retirement benefits) for purposes of the earnings test. 

When a widow reaches her Full Retirement Age (FRA) for both retirement benefits and survi...

We have a client that is at FRA and plans to begin collecting benefits. She (and her husband) are primary caregivers of their two grandchildren both under the age of 16. They have a “split” custodial agreement for their grandchildren. They have primary custody at 51% and the remaining amount is spli...

Do you know whether someone receiving SS benefit can suspend their benefit – basically stop the payments and resume them at a later time.  You used to be able to do this, but I’m wondering whether SSA put limits on this.  I have someone needing to reduce their income for the next 2 years and they st...

How is WEP reduced benefit computed if beginning SS prior to FRA?

When calculating a Social Security benefit that is subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and is being taken before Full Retirement Age (FRA), the reduction is a two-step process. First, the WEP reduction amount is appli...

We emphasize Situational Social Security in the NSSA® Certificate program because all of your clients are unique. Your clients may be single, married with wide or narrow age differences, divorced, surviving spouses, eligible to file a Restricted Application, public employees, and more. Advisors—you—...