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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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Do my future Social Security benefits decrease if my salary decreases?

Full question: I am 65 and pretty much retired since last year. Since my salary last year was very low $22,000 and have made much less this year I noticed my Social Security check diminished by $100 if I wait until I am 70 years old to draw. Will it continue to diminish if I…

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Am I eligible for child-in-care ex-spousal benefits if I was married for 9 years?

Full question: Hi there. I have a very complicated question. My ex spouse and I were married for 9 years. Together we adopted our daughter, K. K is severely disabled. We shall call my ex J. After J and I divorced, I briefly married A. We are now also divorced. In the event that J…

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Does the WEP rule apply to my Social Security retirement benefit when I collect a pension from the UK?

Full question: Hi Martha, Would you be able to calculate what the WEP impact would be for my Social Security work payments while I was working USA (started taking at 62 once I retired and returned to UK ). I am looking at the impact if I decide to take my UK government retirement pension….

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Will a French pension impact a spousal and/or personal Social Security benefit?

Full question: Hello, Martha — my wife receives a Social Security check that’s based partly on her earnings ($500/month) and partly on a spousal benefit that brings her monthly payment up to half of mine. She is eligible for a small pension from France for work that she did before moving to the US. The…

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Will my Social Security benefit impact my survivor Railroad Retirement annuity?

Full question: I am a surviving spouse receiving Railroad Retirement (RR) annuity. I plan on taking my own Social Security next year. Does the entire tier 1 go away? My total is more than tier 1. Thank you! Hi there, Thank you for your question about railroad survivor annuities and Social Security benefits. The tier…

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Can I claim survivor benefits now?

Full question: I have plans to retire January 2024. I am only 64 and want to claim survivors benefits because my husband died on 2006. Want to switch to my social security when I reach the age. Do I have to wait until I retire to start receiving these benefits or can I start now?…

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