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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

How will my husband’s Railroad benefits effect my Social Security benefit amount?

Full question: My husband retired from RR with 40 year and receives full retirement. I am the spouse getting ready for retirement . My SS is more than RR tier 1. Do I qualify for tier 2 and will that affect my SS benefit? Hi there, The Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) and the Social Security…

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Can children collect Social Security based on their dad’s record even if he is incarcerated?

Full question: I am 54 and have 3 minor children (9,11, and 17). My ex-husband is 56. He incarcerated with a life sentence. I have full custody of the children. Are they, will they be, eligible to receive his Social Security benefits? And when? Of course, he does not pay child support. Hi there, Unfortunately,…

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If I apply 3 months before I’m 68, what will my benefit amount be?

Full question: I’m looking to start collecting when I’m 68, I’m at FRA. Question is that you are suppose to put in 3 months prior to when you are looking to start. If I put in 3 months before I’m 68, the difference in payout at 67 vs 68 will I get the payout for…

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If you remarry, do you still get to collect a widows benefit?

Full question: If you remarry at 61 do you still get to collect widows benefit of your deceased husband? Hi there, Yes, if you are not remarried before age 60 (50 if disabled), you can collect survivor benefits based on your deceased’s earnings record. All the best, Martha

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Is my Medicaid waiver difficulty of care payment included as income?

Full question: Is my Medicaid waiver difficulty of care payment included as income for my minor disabled child to receive SSI? Hi there, Parental income is deemed as income to a person under 18 who has a disability and this reduces the child’s SSI because the parents still have a legal obligation to support the…

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My husband is about to file for benefits. I am already collecting mine. Can I wait to collect my spousal benefit?

Full question: Hi Martha. Had a case recently where a younger spouse with a small benefit claimed her own benefit at age 62. She will get a spousal benefit eventiually when her husband files for his. When her husband files, does she have to immediately start the spousal benefit, or can she wait a few…

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