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Your Social Security Questions Answered

Read answers to reader-submitted Social Security questions from Martha Shedden, NARSSA’s Co-Founder and Chief Learning Officer, and her team of experts.

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

If someone dies before receiving the Social Security payment for the previous month, are they still entitled to that benefit?

Full question: Hi Martha, I’m the Personal Representative of a friend who died December 9 2025. SSA clawed back her net payment in December (Part B and D were deducted on Dec 1). My understanding is SSA pays a month in arrears and a person is entitled to a benefit if they lived the full…

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What is my wife eligible to receive for her spousal benefit?

Full question: I am receiving my Social Security benefit and I believe my spouse is eligible for half of my social security benefit but she is receiving less than that. How do I fix it? Hello, Her spousal benefits can be as much as 50% of your primary insurance amount (PIA), the amount you would…

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Will my wife get a survivor benefit if she is already collecting her own?

Full question: I deferred benefits until age 70. My wife will also defer until 70 (2028). Her benefit will be about 70% of mine. If I die before her, but after she is getting her own, would she get my survivor benefit? Hi there, This is a common question about survivor benefits. If your benefit…

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Can I challenge the Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)?

Full question: Hi Martha, Currently my ex wife is collecting 50% of my Tier 1 Railroad retirement due to QDRO. She is remarried and her income along with her husband surpass $225k. I know this, due to my ex truck brokerage business and he drives a truck. We all worked transportation. My question is can…

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How do I respond to this specific question on my application?

Full question: Hi, I’m looking over my Application for SS Retirement Benefits. Question 13 (c) asks to enter information about any marriage if you meet the criteria. I would meet the criteria for having a disabled child and the disability began before age 22, however the child passed away in 2010. I’m confused about how…

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How does continuing to work and the timing of filing taxes affect one’s Social Security benefits?

Full question: My wife has reached full retirement age. She is working and self-employed. She hasn’t paid taxes for last year yet this year. Should she wait until she files taxes before requesting to start benefits? Will she get an adjustment to her benefit if she starts SS before filing her taxes for last year?…

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