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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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Can my minor daughter and my wife collect Social Security based on my record? If so, how?

Full question: Hi Martha, I am 62 years old and recently applied for retirement. My daughter is 9 y.o. and my wife is 47 y.o. I understand that both can collect social security benefits. Question is, do they need to apply separately? Can you please advise how to proceed? Thanks. Hi there, Thank you for…

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Does WEP apply to my foreign pension?

Full question: Is my social security benefit wrongly reduced for WEP? I am retired and my benefit subjected for WEP, but there is no totalization agreement with Turkey where I worked before moving to USA. Does WEP still apply? Hi, Thank you for the question. Yes, the WEP rule still applies to if you are…

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What happens if I am collecting Social Security and still working before my FRA?

Full question: I would like to file at 66 and 1 month for a birthday of 02/20/1957 but I’m still working. Is there a different tax rate if I’m not on my full age of 66 and 6 months? I’m going to continue working even longer but I need the money. Hi, Thank you for…

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I claimed survivor benefits at 62. Can I get my own Social Security benefits at 70?

Full question: I took widow social security at 62 can I get my own at 70? Hello, Thank you for the question. Yes, you do have the ability to switch to your own retirement benefit at anytime from age 62 through 70. You will receive the higher of the two amounts at the time you…

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Is a French Pension subject to the GPO for spousal or survivor benefits?

Full question: The French pension is composed of the State pension plus what we called the Agirc Arco points.Are these money points subject to GPO when you get spousal or widow Social Security? Hi there, Thank you for your question about the Government Pension Offset, GPO rule. This rule applies to dependent benefits such as…

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Can my adult disabled daughter collect Social Security from her dad and her disability benefit too?

Full question: My ex husband began collecting his Social Security at age 62. We have an adult disabled daughter (disability began at age 2) and she receives her own SSDI. Is she allowed to claim part of her dads Social Security and keep her own SSDI? Hi there, Thank you for your question about your…

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