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Martha Shedden is RSSA’s President and Co-Founder. Read Martha’s responses to questions regarding Social Security. View all questions or browse by category. Submit your own question to Martha here.

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Can I apply for spousal benefits and switch to my own benefits later?

Full question: I’m 62 and stopped working, but not collecting Social Security yet. My husband is 69 and still working. Can he apply for Spousal benefits? Can I apply for Spousal benefits after he retires until I’m 67 and then apply for SS? Hi there, One spouse of a couple can only collect spousal benefits…

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Can I collect a survivor benefit if I am caring for his adult disabled child?

Full question: Can I continue to collect my deceased spouse’s SS when I retire if I am caring for his adult disabled child without GPO penalty? The adult child has had SSI denied three times. Can he collect off my deceased spouse’s SS? Also my deceased spouse was military. I am 76 and not retired…

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Can I get my Social Security taxes back if I will never be eligible for benefits?

Full question: I have contributed Social security taxes for only 5 years and I am not eligible for spousal or survivor benefits. I will be receiving a teachers pension in the future. Can I get my SS taxes back for the 5 years, since I will never be eligible for the SS retirement benefits? Hi…

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Why was my client’s Part A Medicare suspended?

Full question: I have a client who had their Part A Medicare suspended by SSA & Medicare but she cannot get a reason for this can you help me find the reason? Hi there, This is an issue that the client must contact the SSA about. I would encourage them to reach out to their…

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How do I proceed when the Social Security Administration is wrong?

Full question: I am a divorcee, married to my ex for more than 10 years. When he retired I applied for child in care benefits from his retirement, I was 62. Our oldest learning disabled -since birth (now age 40) lives with me. I was approved for child in care benefits in 2019. This past…

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What is FRA?

Hello, FRA stands for Full Retirement Age. FRA depends on the year you were born. It is the age that you receive 100% of your Social Security retirement benefit. For those born 1943-1954 it was age 66 and those born 1960 and after it is age 67. It goes up 2 months each year for…

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