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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 receive a child-in-care survivor benefit for my adult disabled child?

Full question: Can I receive child care benefits on my deceased ex husband, for our adult disabled child, who is collecting SSDI on his benefits? I’m 58. Hello, Thank you for your child-in-care survivor benefit question. Yes, if you are younger than age 60 and taking care of a disabled adult child, you may be…

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If I claim spousal benefits through my husband’s Railroad Benefits, will it make me claim my Social Security benefit too?

Full question: I am hoping you will be able to assist in answering a question related to spousal benefits that potentially may involve coordination between the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) and the Social Security Administration (SSA). I plan to take my full retirement benefits at age 67 through SSA. I am currently 62. I do…

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If I switch from Railroad spousal benefits to my own retirement benefit at 70, will I still receive delayed credits?

Full question: My wife retired from the railroad at 63. I am collecting a railroad spousal annuity at 65. When i switch at 70 to my own Social Security which is higher than my Railroad spousal annuity, do i get the delayed Social Security credits from 66 and 6 months to 70? Hello, Thank you…

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Will my wife’s non-covered foreign pension be subject to the GPO?

Full question: My wife is Italian and will collect a work pension from a UK University which is non-covered, in terms of Social Security. I collect SS benefits for about 19 years of covered work in the US. Will my wife’s non-covered University pension be subject to GPO, and so reduced? Hello, Thank you for…

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How do I switch from survivor benefits to my own retirement benefits?

Full question: Currently, I am collecting survivor benefits (wife deceased). I am 69 and I want to switch to my own Social Security benefits as it is much higher. What is the form name/number that I must complete? What information/documentation will I need to provide? (I have spent time looking for this information on the…

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Will I get the larger amount if I qualify for multiple benefits?

Full question: I get survivors benefits now, I am 65 and have worked 27 years past my husbands death. If I continue his until 70 and then switch to mine (I’m still working) will I get a larger check?  Hi there, Thank you for the question about collecting survivor benefits and switching to your own…

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