Spousal Benefits

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Am 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…

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Is one eligible to receive Medicare benefits based on a spouse’s earning record?

Full question: My spouse is now receiving his retirement and Medicare benefits. I work intermittently and may never earn 40 credits. Will I be entitled/eligible to receive Medicare benefits as his spouse when I turn 65? Hello, Yes, you will! Just as you may be eligible to collect Social Security spousal benefits based on your…

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Will a teacher with a pension be subject to the GPO?

Full question: Martha, My wife is a retired teacher in Texas, She gets teacher retirement from TRS. She is over 62. Can she collect a spousal benefit from my Social Security without being subject to the GPO? Hello, Unfortunately, no. I am assuming her earnings as a teacher were not subject to the FICA payroll…

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What is the difference between the two pension rules, WEP and GPO, and how do they affect the benefits I am receiving?

Full question: How can I claim the difference of spousal payment due to WEP? At my full age I filed for Social Security, but due to a foreign pension they reduced my benefit amount, that is under 1/2 my spouse’s PIA. They should add diff of spousal benefit, but they say by GPO no spousal…

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How will my Social Security benefits impact my husband’s benefits and vice versa?

Full question: I retired at 60 and will collect Social Security at 62. My husband will retire at 65 and collect Social Security then. This will occur in the same calendar year- me in September and him in December. Will there be any impact on the other when we each retire? During our working careers,…

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I live in Canada. Can I claim on wife’s Social Security?

Full question: I am 72 and never claimed Social Security as I did not pay into it long enough. Can I claim on my wife’s Social Security? She was born December 1958 and I now live in Canada. Hello, Yes, you are eligible to claim a spousal benefit based on your wife’s earnings record, if…

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