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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. Submit your own question to Martha here.

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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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I am a German citizen, divorced from an American after 20 years of marriage. Am I entitled to ex-spousal benefits?

Full question: I am a German citizen, married to an American in Germany and also divorced from him in Germany after 20 years of marriage. Am I entitled to spousal Social Security benefits? Hi there, If you are a citizen or, in most cases, a legal resident of a country with which the United States…

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Am I eligible for ex-spousal benefits?

Full question: Married in 1977 but had a simple divorce in 1983 but thought it was a mistake and kept living together until 2007 as husband and wife and had children during that time. In 2007 we had an agreement to go our separate ways. Can any one of us claim ex-spouse benefits for being…

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I am divorced. We were married for less than 10 years. Am I eligible for ex-spousal benefits?

Full question: Hi Martha, I’m upset because I think I know the answer but just wanted to double check. My ex-husband and I were married on 4-29-1989 and we were divorced I believe with a date of 2-3-1999. So, just 2 months shy of 10 years. I don’t believe I’m eligible but wanted to double…

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If my wife is currently collecting based on my benefits, will she collect the same benefits when I die?

Full question: If my wife is drawing on my benefits when I pass will she continue to draw the same benefits? My benefits were reduced because of Federal employment. Hi there, If your wife is collecting spousal benefits based on your earnings record and you pass away, she will be eligible for survivor benefits, which…

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