The Benefits Blog

I just wanted to clarify my last email and I thank you so much for your expertise and help. I have a sixty-two-year-old woman who was married to a gentleman for over fourteen years they divorced ten years ago.  She never remarried, he did. He is now seventy-two and drawing Social Security retirement...

A client claimed her own benefit when she turned 62 last year. Her ex turned 62 this year which qualifies her for a greater spousal benefit. When she called Social Security to claim off her ex, the representative recommended she defer spousal for a larger future benefit. This doesn’t seem right cons...

Do Social Security statements include DRC’s?

Yes, Social Security benefit statements do include Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs). DRCs are earned when you delay taking your Social Security benefits beyond your Full Retirement Age (FRA). For every month you delay taking benefits past FRA, your bene...

My birth date is 4/30/58. I will retire at 65 and one month 5/31/23, prior to full retirement age. From 1/1/23 to 5/31/23, I will earn $150,000 earned income. After 5/31/23, I will never have any further earned income. If I elect SSA benefits 6/1/23 will I have any reduction in benefits due to the 5...

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—...

Have the benefits on the Social Security statement been adjusted for the 8.7% COLA?

Yes, the Social Security benefit statements have been adjusted to include the most recent 8.7% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This means that the benefit amounts shown on the statements reflect the increase provi...

I read an article that says that someone with a military background, mostly National Guard or Reserve forces, are eligible for additional SS wage credits added to their earnings record.

This was new to me but what I found was it looks like there was legislation passed in 2022 regarding Postal worke...

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 Disability?  Is getting an...

I have a question about starting retirement benefits after FRA. I understand that if someone turns 68 in February 2023 and they start benefits any time after FRA month in 2023, then the monthly benefit amount will not increase for DRCs. Individual will only receive his/her PIA. For example, if you d...

We have a client in Texas that is an educator, paying into the Texas State Teachers Retirement fund. She is planning to retire in 2025 and is being told by an advisor in Texas that if she takes a refund of her retirement account and makes a planned move to Arizona after retirement, this severs her s...