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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 is my mom eligible to collect from my deceased dad’s benefits if she is currently working?

Full question: My mom just turned 62, not yet collecting Social Security. Her husband (my dad) died at age 46. She works full-time. What is my mom eligible to collect from my deceased dad’s benefits and will her current income have an impact on this? Hello, Your mom should look into survivor benefits if she…

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What would my family receive in Social Security benefits if I start collecting now at age 63 vs. waiting to collect at my FRA?

Full Question: Should I retire and pull benefits? This is probably a question you have been asked a million times – but some facts: I am 63 years and 7 months old (on the 22nd) and I am eligible to retire. My wife is 10 years younger than me. We both work for the state…

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I’m 63 and my husband is 65. Can I qualify for Medicare based on my husband’s age?

Hi, No, not at age 63. Medicare is available for people age 65 or older and is comprised of two parts, Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medicare Insurance). You are eligible for premium-free Part A if you are age 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for…

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Am I eligible for Social Security if I only worked for 5 years?

Full question: I’ve been a stay at home mom for most of my adult life. I worked for about 5 years. Am I eligible for Social Security? Hello, To be eligible to collect your own retirement benefits, you must have worked and paid taxes into Social Security for 40 quarters, or 10 years. In your…

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If a wife collects her retirement benefits at age 62 and her husband collects at age 70, what amount of survivor benefit will she receive if he dies before her?

Full Question: If a wife collects her social security at age 62, taking a 30% cut for early distributions, and her husband waits till 70 to collect his. If the husbands then passes away, I know the wife is entitled to receive his survivor benefit. This benefit includes the extra 32% because he waited to…

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Once you begin collecting Social Security benefits, can the amount increase or decrease?

Full question: Once you begin drawing SSA retirement, can it go up or down? Hi there, Unless there are major, immediate changes to the Social Security rules, it can only increase. In fact, it can increase in several ways. First of all, the annual cost of living adjustment, COLA, normally increases benefits unless the COLA…

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