Social Security

1)     In the article,  Social Security Fears, many Social Security myths are addressed. What concerns you the most about Social Security? 

How can Medicare B not be covered automatically when benefits start regardless of the impact of work earnings?I am enrolled in Medicare part B while continuing to work.My benefits began, but my earnings exceeding the max level, are suspended for some months.Medicare is continuing to bill me for quarterly premiums.SSA informed me since I received no payment, my premium could not be deducted, therefore I owe it.When is Medicare ever going to know when to stop sending me quarterly billings, or for that matter, when to start them again if I continued to work?Thanks,

I am on SSDI an my spouse is on SSDI. He has liver cancer. When he passes away, how will SSDI work?

Here's what I'm trying to do and what I found out, but would like to confirm. I'm a U.S. citizen and permanent resident of Japan, having lived here 40 years. I live with my same sex partner of more than 20 years. While I'm eligible for U.S. social security benefits (I'm 67 now) I have not started taking retirement benefits yet. Since I'm still working, I thought I would try to wait until I turned 70 for maximum benefits. I'm lucky that even though I've been here so long I've managed to accumulate enough credits so I can get benefits which would be helpful. Also, even though I have national health insurance in Japan, I signed up for Medicare Parts A and B when I turned 65, in case I should ever need treatment in the U.S. - like on a visit. What I'm trying to do is this: I would  like to ensure that my partner receives social security survivor benefits when I eventually pass away. He has never been to the U.S. And we cannot marry in Japan. My benefits would be of great ass

Long story short, I work a full time job and I will be 67 yrs old .  I recieved a notification from SS that I can start collecting my full SS. Friends are telling me not to start collecting since I am still working full time. Why isn't it a good idea to start now. Will I pay more for Medicare or will I pay more taxes. Thanks! 

  SSA.gov - Office Closings and Emergencies -Closures or Delays AffectingIn-Person Service From the link ~Due to widespread IT outages due to the global Microsoft and Crowdstrike issues, local Social Security offices are closed to the public today. Our phone line remains open and many online services at ssa.gov remain available. We appreciate your patience while we work to restore services as quickly as possible.For people who are deaf or hard of hearing and use TTY, our TTY line remains open - 800-325-0778.  

Dear Colleagues: When trying to determine the value of survivor benefits. SSA is telling us the survivor benefit amount is based on the deceased persons "basic" benefit calculated at full retirement age. AARP articles are saying the benefit amount is what the deceased person's benefit calculated at the date of death, including any delayed benefit increases. See AARP article May 1, 2024 by Tamara Holmes.https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/info-2024/benefits-couple-strategies.htmlThis article clearly says that "But “if they wait until 70 and earn those delayed retirement credits, that will increase the survivor’s benefit." Another article confirms the AARP analysis. https://articles.opensocialsecurity.com/survivor-benefit-calculation/It notes that if the deceased spouse dies before FRA, the survivor benefit is the primary insurance amount (PIA). Can anyone help us solve this? Will the survivor benefit be the PIA or the delayed benefit amount? Thanks!

Suze Orman Advice on Social Securityhttps://www.suzeorman.com/blog/tag/social-security

My Mother receives Social Security SSI money. If she has or makes too much money, they will start restricting her benefits. I'm in a position where I need to utilize her bank account, and move about $2,000 dollars a month through her account. She's afraid they will see this money and think it is hers and start taking some of her money. Is there any form we can fill out, or anything we can do proactively to let the IRS or Social Security Administration know that this is my money and not hers? I don't want to negatively effect her income, but I'm unable to open my own bank account for the foreseeable future due to personal reasons. Thanks!

     I live in Thailand where my SS check is sent. In the past I was able to transfer online and also had an ATM card. Now the Thai banks are saying that the US govt has said that all recipients must go to the bank in person for all transactions. Supposedly because of fraud, but it is a pain in the butt. Is this true or not and if so, who can I complain to? Not that it will do any good, but it will make me feel better.

 A bill was recently introduced in the House by Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn) called "You earned it You keep it". It would eliminate federal taxes from Social Security wages. A windfall for most retired people a great help in these trying times. What is AARP's stand on this not sure? What is your Representative's stand maybe time to ask? Time for the senior citizens voice to be heard. Why are all tax regulations aimed at businesses and the wealthy?  Seniors have been paying taxes for a long time. If you agree let's hear your opinion!Ray G

  For those who would like to read it themselves -  straight from the horses’ mouth, so to speak.   2024 Social Security Trustee Report Summary   Sometimes other media outlets tend to emphasize somethings in the report rather than others -     So is the outlook really any better?  Not in my book -  personally with employment doing so well and with wages being way up - I was really expecting more as it relates to extending the SS programs of Retirement and Survivors (OASI).   Yes, the SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) seems to be doing better but remember we have OVER a million disability claims that are backlogged at the present time.https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/01/over-1-million-people-are-waiting-on-social-security-disability-claims.html    For those who are retired or are almost to that point:  (from the link) -   Based on our best estimates, this year's reports sh

Does anyone know if I am able to check on the status of my son's social security benefit payment. He lives with my ex-wife and neither of them will communicate with me. My son turned 18 in January of 2024, so does that mean his benefit has stopped automatically? I read about the ability to extend it if the child is enrolled in a school under grade 12, but he was home schooled his entire life. Am I able to check online somewhere if his benefit has stopped?

I am 64 but have not filed for SSI. My wife is also 64 but already filed for SSI when she was 63. My benefit will be significantly higher than hers. My question is does the benefit for her as a survivor, should I die first, be greater if I wait until 70 to file, or is it maxed out at my FRA of 67?  That is presuming I don't die until after the age of 70. And I realize she cannot receive both hers and mine. Thank you 

   Hi:   I retired in 2022 and was charged a part D monthly adjustment in 2022 for high income reported on 2020 tax return filed in April 2021. May I file for a refund based on 2022 income? If so do I use Form SSA-44?Or am I out of luck because I did not file SSA-44 in 2022 when I retired?

 Married 40 years.  Divorced 9 months.  Ex (age 74) started collecting SS 9 years ago.  I just reached full retirement age (66.5). Social security told me that I could not collect under his name because I was not divorced for TWO years yet and to reapply then. Said that rule applied was across the board - applied to everyone. According to AARP, the two year rule only applies if EX has not started SS yet. Who is correct? If AARP is correct, how do I fight this with SS?

Situation, Wife has no credits, Husband does.  Both over 65 now, Got married a few years ago, waited the one year and she now receives the 50% of his.  Now if they Divorce well under the 10 year mark, will she loose her 50% and get nothing since she has no credits?

 Hello Again,  Three years ago My 86 year old Mother-in-law who lost her husband who was receiving Social Security Retirement. She called to inquire about Survivor’s Benefits as a Widow & was told she was eligible for a certain amount every month. She had been receiving it until she received a letter from Social Security stating that she should not have received it & has to pay them back. I don’t agree that ANYONE should have to repay Social Security due to the errors of those employees who should KNOW about Social Security. They are mistreating the vulnerable & giving them the run around also in having them do telephone interviews as well. They know the majority probably aren’t tech savvy either. It’s happening a lot now & something needs to be done about it.

     My ex husband passed Nov 1, 2023. We divorced Jan 4 2014 after being separated for several yrs I became disabled Jan10 2014. I was 54.  I remarried Sept 5 2015 at age 55. Am I eligible to survivor benefits? I was told yes by 2 employees of Social Security and no by 2 other employees. I received a denial because I remarried before 60 and was verbally told because I’m over 60.  Anyone know where I can get legal assistance?

FROM THE ARTICLE - SEE ARTICLE FOR MORE! Social Security Struggles to Improve Customer Service. Hiring freeze amid congressional spending standoff sets back efforts to reduce phone wait times, speed up disability claims, SSA says. By Andy Markowitz, AARP. Published April 10, 2024. *** USE LINK AT BOTTOM OF THIS POST TO READ THIS ARTICLE *** [1] Then enter Email Address you used to sign in to use This Site.   [2] Then enter the password you use.   [3] Lastly, there are 3 LETTERS that will "pop up" as their SECURITY CHECK. Enter those.   [4] Then click log in. https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/info-2024/hiring-freeze-customer-service.html

If you have set up your mySocialSecurity account you are able to name your choice of a Representative Payee (RP) then each year the SSA will send you a letter stating who they currently on file for you.   You can change it at any time. SSA does not recognize your POA even if you have one - they need to have this RP on your file.  The RP acts on your behalf in managing your SS benefit when for some reason you can’t.    This goes for managing your benefit to your benefit to being able to change your address on the SS file or talk to them about any SS matter.So do it today - set one up.  If they don’t have this named authority, then if something happens it just makes it really hard for someone to act for your - and in some situations, the SSA could actually appoint someone or some institution to handle your affairs. SSA.gov - Identify someone to manage benefits for you You also need to do a designate on Medicare - the person you want to be

I need help completing the form for claiming amounts due in the case of a deceased beneficiary.Question #1...name of surviving widow - that's me...I entered my SS#, I answered "yes" to living in the same household with the deceased at the time of death...my question is with the last part: "Was he or she entitled to a monthly benefit on the same earnings record as the deceased at the time of death?" Yes or No?We were both over 70 and were claiming our own SS benefit based on our own earnings records. His is a larger amount...so I am awaiting an appointment with my local SS office to switch that over...but in the meanwhile I am confused by the "entitled". I think the right answer is NO...because I have my own earnings record...but i don't want to mess this up.Thank you in advance. 

I'm planning to retire at the end of May. If I let my employer know now, to give them time to restructure or find a new employee, they just might choose to let me go early. I could then apply for unemployment benefits, presumably. Should I then put off applying for retirement benefits from SS until after unemployment has run out? But if I do, wouldn't I be required to "look for work" to qualify for unemployment benefits, even though I'm still planning to retire in a couple of months? Presumably I can't apply for unemployment while also receiving SS retirement benefits?I should mention that I'm in California, since the rules may be different here than elsewhere. It's been about 20 years since I've had to deal with the EDD, but I recall them pretty adamant about the "looking for work" clause to qualify for benefits. If I'm taking retirement benefits I'm presumably not looking for work. Even if I don't take my retirement benefits, I'm really not going to be wasting time looking for a job

I receive a mailer today on this bill that would guarantee us our Social Security benefits with cost of living increases and not allow Congress/Senate to redistribute our funds. Wondering what AARP's position is on this bill? Is there a partisan catch? Or is this something we should be writing our representatives on? Thanks!

I applied for benefits in July of 2023 but changed my mind and decided not to retire. I sent in all the paperwork to stop my benefits but I am still receiving payments.  (As a side note, it has been 7 months and SS still has not completed this process.  I have called on a regular basis every month and they keep telling me my withdrawal is still in process.) I understand I will need to pay back 100% of the net amount of what I have received.  My question is will I receive a refund of the taxes withheld for 2023 and 2024 once social security has completed the withdrawal process? I had 20% tax withheld from each payment.  I'm fairly certain I had to pay additional taxes outside of the 20% which left me with taxes owed to the IRS for 2023.