Ask Martha

Your Questions Answered

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.

401k Abroad Adult Disabled Child Applying for Benefits Caring for children Child Benefits Child Support Claiming Strategies COLA Death Dependents Disability Disability Disabled Children Divorce Earned Income Earnings Earnings Test Eligibility for Benefits Ex-spousal benefits Family Benefits Foreign Pensions FRA Garnishment General GPO Green Card Income Limits Loans Marriage Medicaid Medicare Minor children Multiple benefits My Social Security Account News & Legislation Overpayment Pensions Railroad Retirement Remarriage Representative Payee Retroactive benefits Roadmap Software Social Security Administration Social Security Benefits Social Security Terminology Spousal Benefits SSDI SSI Substantial Gainful Activity Survivor Benefits Switching benefits Taxation Teaching Pension Totalization Agreements Underpayment Veterans WEP Withdrawing Application Work Credits Working Working with an RSSA
Ask Your Question

Do the young spouse (under age 62) child-in-care benefits apply to ex-spouses just as they do for spouses?

Full question: The spousal benefits to collect for child-in-care benefits applies only to the spouse or the ex-spouse as well? I had a situation where my ex-husband retired and my children got Dependent benefits until they finished high school around 18/19 years old. I never got any benefit. My ex was collecting my children benefits…

Read More

I will turn 65 next year, but will continue working. Should I enroll in Medicare then and how much will it cost each month?

Full question: I will turn 65 on June 12,2021 and I plan on still working until I’m 70 if my health allows it. Should I stop paying my health insurance then ($600/mo.) and pick up Medicare with a supplemental plan? And if I did this, how much a month do I have to pay for…

Read More

My Social Security is not enough to cover my Medicare premiums. Can I pay the balance due monthly or quarterly?

Full question: I am a widow and a retired federal employee receiving a civil service pension. And because of this, I was told I could not receive any benefits from my deceased husband. I now receive a small Social Security benefit from various part-time jobs. However, I do not receive the money because I was…

Read More

Am I entitled to a benefit based on my ex-spouse’s record if I care for a disabled adult child?

Full question: I am age 60, disabled, retired and receive disability from SSA. My ex-spouse over 20 years is disabled and receives disability from SSA. I have been caring for our disabled son since age 16 and he is now 29 receiving benefits from his dad’s record as a disabled adult. Can I receive benefits…

Read More

Can my wife and I use the restricted application filing strategy?

Full question: I was born in 1953 and my wife was born in 1958. I would like to wait to start collecting until age 70 in 2023. Can we use the restricted application filing strategy? Hi there! Yes, you may be able to use this claiming strategy. Since your wife is 62 in 2020, she…

Read More

Will my wife’s earnings impact her eligibility to receive spousal benefits?

Full question: I just turned 69 and filed for Social Security benefits. My monthly benefit is $2,900. My wife is only 63 and she still works. Can she collect a spousal benefit and will her earnings impact this? Hi there, If you just started collecting at age 69 and your benefit is $2,900 then your…

Read More