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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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What does average monthly expenses for the ‘entire’ household mean on an SSI change of address form?

Hello, I assume you are being asked this in relationship to your living arrangement. Living arrangements, and the expenses associated with it, are a factor used to determine how much Supplemental Security Income (SSI) you can get. This means your SSI benefits may vary depending on where you live: your own house, apartment, or mobile…

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Can paid insurance premiums be deducted from my earned income to avoid earning limit penalties?

Full question: At age 62 I’m going to apply for Social Security and still work part-time. I will purchase health insurance on my own. Can premiums paid be deducted from income earned to conform to earning limits to avoid penalties? Hello, Unfortunately, no. There are no strategies that can lower your earned wages to stay…

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When should I apply for my Social Security benefits?

Full question: I will be 62 in 8 months, when should I apply for Social Security? Hi there, Everyone has a unique situation when it comes to collecting Social Security. There are many factors to consider when deciding the best time for an individual to file for benefits including, but not limited to life expectancy,…

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Do I already need to be collecting benefits to receive the cost-of-living adjustment?

Full question: Is it preferable to start collecting as of December 2021 rather than March 2022 in order to qualify for the 5.9% cola increase? Hello, For retirees who are already collecting benefits prior to January of a given year, they will automatically see an increase come January for the Cost-Of-Living. However, those who are…

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If a spouse collects their own retirement benefit at 62, can they switch to a spousal benefit later?

Full question: Hello Martha and Happy Safe New Year. My wife turned 62 in Jan 2022 and is entitled to receive $644 if we elect to start then. Under Spousal benefits, she would receive $1,008 if I were receiving my benefits. I am turning 65 this July 2022 and haven’t filed to collect yet, waiting…

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My wife recently passed away. Is there anything I need to do with the Social Security Administration?

Hello, I am very sorry for your loss. In most cases, a funeral home will report a death to the Social Security Administration. You should provide the funeral home with your husband’s Social Security number. You cannot report a death or apply for survivor’s benefits online. You should call 1-800-772-1213 to speak with Social Security…

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