This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By using this site, you acknowledge that the content is proprietary and copyright-protected by Social Security Professionals, LLC. We make no guarantees regarding the accuracy of the content and disclaim any responsibility for actions taken based on this information.

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.

Handling Overpayment Due to Government Pension (WEP) Impact on Social Security hey marc! windfall elimination provision (wep) May 22, 2024

A client worked for the city for 35 years. He receives a sizable government pension.  Client just received a letter indicating that he is overpaid due to the government pension (WEP). Do you have any suggestions regarding repayment to SSA?. Client is 71 years old.

Your client’s...

Continue Reading...
Annual Earnings Test Adjustments for Retirement, Spousal, and Survivor Benefits annual earnings test (aet) full retirement age (fra) hey marc! spousal benefits survivor benefit May 22, 2024

The heart of the question relates to the adjustment at FRA relating to benefits withheld due to the Annual Earnings Test.  Does that adjustment occur with only retirement benefits, or will that adjustment apply also to survivor or spousal benefits as well?

When Social Security benefits are...

Continue Reading...
Why the 2/3 GPO Offset Might Affect Your Survivor Benefits with a PERS Pension government pension offset (gpo) hey marc! May 16, 2024

I have a lady who lost her husband in February this year.  She is on PERS, so she has a non-taxed pension.  Here are the numbers:  Survivor DOB 12/23/1943  Husband DOB 07/13/1937  Husband Date of Death 2/4/2024  She receives $1,296/month from PERS  His SS income...

Continue Reading...
Adjustments at FRA for Benefits Withheld Due to the Annual Earnings Test earnings test full retirement age (fra) hey marc! survivor benefit May 15, 2024

The heart of the question relates to the adjustment at FRA relating to benefits withheld due to the Annual Earnings Test.  Does that adjustment occur with only retirement benefits, or will that adjustment apply also to survivor or spousal benefits as well?

The adjustment for benefits...

Continue Reading...
Can SSDI and Medicare Continue When Returning to Work? continuing disability review (cdr) extended period of eligibility (epe) hey marc! medicare social security disability insurance (ssdi) May 03, 2024

Can someone remain on SSDI and Medicare when returning to work? Circumstance: 30-year-old male currently on Social Security Disability due to 3 kidney transplants (1998, 2005, 2019). This fall he returned to work part-time in a warehouse in a temporary seasonal job ending this month, and wonders...

Continue Reading...
Can a Widower Switch to His Own Work Record and Backdate Benefits? delayed retirement credits (drc) hey marc! Apr 25, 2024

I have a client, widower (July, 2016), has been drawing a surviving spouse benefit since he was eligible and just turned 70 on March 1, 2024.  He is wants to switch over to his work record, which he has been delaying. My question is, will he be able to back date his election to his own work...

Continue Reading...
Will Working Longer Eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)? hey marc! windfall elimination provision (wep) Apr 17, 2024

I have a situation where someone has worked and is captured under WEP.  The client is currently 65, and believes that if he works another 6 years, he will collect his full SS benefits and government pension. 

Your client’s understanding that working another six years could allow...

Continue Reading...
Understanding the Earnings Test and Spousal Benefits for Early Retirement hey marc! maximizing benefits Apr 11, 2024

I have a question in regard to spousal benefit for my clarification.  If I have a client that is 63 and his wife is 62. She has her own work record but is a much lower income earner. If she elects to turn on her benefit early (age 62) and for a reduced benefit amount and her husband waits...

Continue Reading...
Can Social Security Benefits Be Suspended After Age 67 Without Repayment? delayed retirement credits (drc) full retirement age (fra) hey marc! program operations manual system (poms) Apr 10, 2024

My client, age 67, is currently collecting his SS benefits. He called SSA to suspend his benefit so he could start to receive DRC’s. SSA told him he could only do so if he paid back the SS benefits that he had received so far. She said that was a recent rule change. Is that correct? If not,...

Continue Reading...
Eligibility for Widower Benefits After Remarriage ex-spousal benefit hey marc! widower benefit Mar 04, 2024

A new case has come to my attention where the ex-wife of over 10 years died. The ex-husband has remarried but remarried after age 60. He went to SSA to file on the ex-wife’s record (widower benefits) and was denied.

  • Married over 10 years
  • Divorced more than 2 years (not an issue-MDK)
  • ...
Continue Reading...