General

Ask Martha

401k Abroad Adult Disabled Child Applying for Benefits Caring for children Child Benefits Child Support Child-in-care benefits Claiming Strategies COLA Death Dependents Disability Disability Disabled Children Divorce Earned Income Earnings Earnings Test Eligibility for Benefits Ex-spousal benefits Family Benefits Family Maximum Foreign Pensions FRA Future of Social Security Garnishment General GPO Green Card Income Limits Loans Marriage Medicaid Medicare Minor children Multiple benefits My Social Security Account News & Legislation Overpayment Pensions Railroad Retirement Remarriage Representative Payee Retroactive benefits Roadmap Software Self-Employed Social Security Administration Social Security Benefits Social Security Fairness Act (HR 82) Social Security Terminology Spousal Benefits SSDI SSI Substantial Gainful Activity Survivor Benefits Switching benefits Taxation Teaching Pension Totalization Agreements Underpayment Veterans WEP Withdrawing Application Withholding benefits Work Credits Working Working with an RSSA
Or Ask a New Question

Am I eligible for Social Security if I only worked for 5 years?

Full question: I’ve been a stay at home mom for most of my adult life. I worked for about 5 years. Am I eligible for Social Security? Hello, To be eligible to collect your own retirement benefits, you must have worked and paid taxes into Social Security for 40 quarters, or 10 years. In your…

Read More

Once you begin collecting Social Security benefits, can the amount increase or decrease?

Full question: Once you begin drawing SSA retirement, can it go up or down? Hi there, Unless there are major, immediate changes to the Social Security rules, it can only increase. In fact, it can increase in several ways. First of all, the annual cost of living adjustment, COLA, normally increases benefits unless the COLA…

Read More

Do I have to pay taxes on Social Security income?

Hi, Yes, your Social Security income may be taxable, but it depends on the amount of your combined income* each year. At the most, only 85% of your Social Security income may be taxed by the IRS. This is how you calculate your combined income*: Your adjusted gross income (AGI) + Nontaxable interest + ½…

Read More

Are children eligible to receive benefits from their parents?

Hi, Yes, children may be eligible for benefits when a parent receives Social Security retirement or disability benefits. Children may also be eligible for benefits when a parent dies. In order to be eligible for benefits, a child must be unmarried and younger than age 18. Children, 18 to 19 years old, may be eligible…

Read More

When will I receive my benefit each month?

Hi, Social Security benefits are paid monthly and they are paid one-month late. For example, your October benefit will be paid in November. Benefits are paid on Wednesdays and the Wednesday you receive your benefit is dependent on your birthdate. If you were born on the 1st-10th of the month, you will be paid on…

Read More

What is the maximum monthly payment someone can receive?

Hello, The maximum amount is dependent on when an individual claims their benefits. For someone reaching FRA (Full Retirement Age) in 2020 who claims their benefits at FRA, the maximum benefit payable would be $3,011. For someone reaching FRA in 2020 who claims benefits early at age 62, the maximum payable benefit would be $2,265….

Read More

< Back