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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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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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How do I withdraw my Social Security application?

Full question: Hi Martha, I applied for SSI a month ago but then decided that I wanted to cancel the process so I went to the Social Security office and the person that spoke to me told me that he couldn’t do it, that I needed a telephone appointment to do that. I have read…

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I am caring for a disabled child. Am I eligible for ex-spousal benefits if my ex has not collected yet?

Full question: Can you draw disability Social Security off of ex husband that isn’t drawing yet and you are taking care of his disabled child? Hello, Thank you for the question about divorced spousal benefits. If you are divorced and were married for at least 10 years you may be eligible for ex-spousal benefits. If…

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We are dual US-UK citizens. What benefits are we eligible for under the totalization agreement?

Full question: My husband and I are dual US-UK citizens living in the UK since 1996. We are unable to forecast my husband’s retirement benefit, as the SSA online tools only provide for citizens who have earned a minimum of 40 credits and need to calculate WEP. In my husband’s case, he did not earn…

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I am getting conflicting information about foreign pensions from the SSA website and my local SSA office. Who is correct?

Full question: Hi, Martha, I understand that the WEP reduction for Foreign Pension cannot be more than 1/2 of the Foreign pension. That‘s even mentioned on the SSA website. Today, we went to our local SSA office and they said that the deduction up to 2/3s of the Foreign government pension. Who is correct –…

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