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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.
Can my current spouse and/or ex-spouse collect spousal Social Security benefits based on my record?
Full question: If I was married for 17 years and now I’ve remarried and my current marriage is in the 15th year, who can claim spousal Social Security benefits, my current spouse or my divorced spouse? And my current spouse is 64 and collecting social security at this time. Can he collect from mine if…
Read MoreWhat should I do if the Social Security Administration is using the GPO against me despite having a foreign pension?
Full question: SSA are refusing to acknowledge that my U.K. pension does not trigger the GPO when I applied for survivor benefits. I have highlighted the relevant section to them. What should be my next step? Hi there, Foreign pensions are not considered as government pensions for purposes of the GPO provision, as specified in…
Read MoreCan my minor children collect Social Security benefits based on my ex-spouse’s earnings if he has not started collecting?
Full question: I meet all the qualifications to receive Social Security under my ex’s record. I plan on starting benefits at 62 because I have minor children. I can not figure out what the child benefit would be. 50% of my ex’s FRA will be $2000. I will have 2 minor children. If he has…
Read MoreAm I eligible to collect an ex-spousal benefit if my ex’s benefit is higher than mine?
Full question: I was married to my husband for 17 years and then divorced, can I draw my ex-husband benefit since his is higher than mine? Hi there, Yes, you may be eligible to collect benefits based on your ex-spouse’s earnings if you were married at least 10 years, are currently single, your ex-spouse is…
Read MoreWhen a Social Security recipient passes away, what will happen to their Social Security benefit payments?
Hello, When a fully insured worker, who may or may not have been collecting Social Security benefits, passes away, dependents of that worker may be entitled to certain amounts of the benefit. Dependent survivors of a worker can include a spouse, ex-spouse, minor or adult-disabled children, and even parents in some cases. The amount that…
Read MoreWill my deceased husband’s foreign pension affect my survivor benefit?
Full question: I, the beneficiary, am eligible to receive a part of my deceased husband’s UK widow’s clergy pension. Will it affect my survivor Social Security benefit?. Hello, No, it will not for two reasons. If you are collecting a pension benefit based on someone else’s earnings (your husband), the Government Pension Offset (GPO) rule…
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