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By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. Wife’s benefits not affected by husband’s state pension Social Security Matters
Dear Rusty: I am 73 and receive a pension from my state’s Police and Fire Pension Fund. I took a full pension, so my wife only gets a widow’s pension when I die, and this is only a fraction of what my full pension is. I also get a small Social Security benefit, about $95 a month, and that amount is pro-rated because of the amount of my state pension. My wife is 71 and receives a Social Security benefit of about $600 a month. When I die, can she get a portion of my Social Security benefit? And will it increase since she will not be getting my full state pension? Signed: Retired Public Servant
Ask Rusty – Delayed Claiming; Am I Now Getting the Right Amount?
AMAC Certified Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor Association of Mature American Citizens
Dear Rusty: I am having problems getting answers from the national Social Security office or the local agent who I first spoke with to apply for my benefits. I am 70 in January 2021 and applied for benefits at the end of August 2020. I asked to have benefits start in October 2020 with my first payment received in November. I was told that the benefit for applying at age 69 & 9 months would not be received until January of 2021. Until then I would receive the 69 years and 0 months payment, which I received in November and December of 2020. In January 2021 however, I received the same 2020 payment plus the COLA increase. I ve asked what s up at the local office and have been waiting for a return phone call. My first question: is the amount I received in November and December last year correct, i.e., it is only the age 69 amoun
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By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. Ask Rusty: Should I wait until age 70 to claim? Social Security Matters
Dear Rusty: I have read your answers to the commonly asked question of “When should I claim social security benefits.” You always say one should wait as long as possible (up to age 70) to get the maximum monthly benefit. But I have not seen you address the matter of all the money you could have collected if you start drawing sooner and how many years it will take, if you wait, to recoup all that money.
Dear Rusty: It is common knowledge that over the decades politicians have taken billions if not trillions of dollars out of the Social Security fund to finance other government programs. This information is never published or addressed and having the government repay this money back to SS is never discussed, as it seems to be the most logical solution. When the SS program is financially viable again, future changes to the program can be discussed in a more meaningful way. Signed: Informed Senior
Dear Informed: Iâm afraid that what you refer to as âcommon knowledgeâ is actually a common myth, pervasive on social media but nevertheless not accurate. Here at the AMAC (Association of Mature American Citizens) Foundation we have thoroughly researched this charge and reality is that every dollar ever contributed to Social Security since the programâs beginning has been used only to pay benefits to beneficiaries, or to pay for the cost of running the Social Security Adm