Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words
Sorted by date Results 101 - 108 of 108
Ask Rusty – Can I Claim My SS Now and Switch to Spouse Benefits Later? Dear Rusty: I am 62 and have been a homemaker for much of my adult life. I have a small Social Security account from working years ago. My husband is older, has been the major wage earner and will have a good amount in Social Security when he claims. I have been told that I should claim my social security now. It's a small amount - about $475 per month if I claim it now, and $550 after I'm age 66 - so it's not a life c...
Ask Rusty – When Can I Get Benefits from My Ex-spouse? Dear Rusty: I know that I am able to get Social Security from my ex-husband. We were married for 16 years and I have not remarried. I will be 60 soon and he is 63. I do not know if he is retired yet, as we do not speak. Please advise when I can collect and how to go about the process. Signed: Divorced Lady Dear Divorced Lady: Since you were married to your ex for more than 10 years and haven't remarried, you may be able to collect a s...
Ask Rusty – Will My Widow's Benefit Replace My Own SS? Dear Rusty: My husband is 76, retired for 4 years, and receiving Social Security. I am only 59 and still working. We are both in good health and I'd like to think we still have many years to enjoy retirement. My question: Is it true that if I start SS at 62, I can switch to my husband's SS when he passes? If this is true (and his amount is slightly higher than my FRA amount), wouldn't it make sense for me to begin collecting at 62? S...
Ask Rusty – Will Inheritance Money Affect My Social Security? Dear Rusty: I will turn 66 this year and am considering claiming my Social Security. I have already applied for Medicare. My parents passed on several years ago, and the estate will probably settle this year. I would like to know if my inheritance money will have any effect on my social security benefits. If so, how? Signed: Wondering Heir Dear Wondering: No, your inheritance money from your parents' estate will not affect your g...
Dear Rusty: One of the big pieces of the Social Security puzzle that everyone seems to miss is the protection of other retirement funds. If I did not take SS, I would have to dip into my retirement savings to fund the early part of my retirement. I took SS at my full retirement age rather than wait, so I am preserving my retirement account that has historically been getting 8-9% interest over the last 30 years. Social Security will never give me anything close to those returns. Signed: Smart...
Ask Rusty – Does Paying FICA Tax Now Increase My Benefit? Dear Rusty: If a person retires at age sixty-six and continues to work full time, Social Security taxes are still taken out of his weekly paycheck. Will this taxation for Social Security contribute more to the person's Social Security benefit, even if already retired? Signed: Curious Retiree Dear Curious Retiree: Since its inception in 1935, Social Security has been a "pay as you go" program where contributions from those who are w...
Dear Rusty: I will be 65 in August of this year. If I start drawing Social Security on my 65th birthday, how will my Social Security check be affected if I continue working at my full-time job, and take home $1380 every two weeks, until I reach my full retirement age? Signed: Working Senior Dear Working Senior: Social Security (SS) has an "earnings test" which applies to anyone who collects benefits before they have reached their full retirement age (FRA). There is also a "first year rule"...
Ask Rusty – Should I Claim Social Security Now or Wait Until I'm 70? Dear Rusty: I'm currently 67 years old and still working full time. I took a big financial hit in 2008, which is why I'm still working, and I expect to continue working until I'm 70. My question is: should I take Social Security now, bank it until I'm 70, and then pay it out to myself upon retirement? Or would it be better to hold off until I'm 70 to claim. Longevity of about 85 seems to run in my family. Signed: Working S...