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Boost Your Social Security Benefits
Security Security benefits were never meant to live on alone without supplemental pensions, savings, or other sources of income. Benefits replace just 40 percent of pre-retirement income. Filing for Social Security as late as possible is the easiest way to get the biggest monthly check for the rest of your life. But, Maurie Backman also suggests part-time work or extending one’s career to boost the wage base on which benefits are calculated. Read Backman’s full piece here.
The AMAC Foundation offers a free-to-the-public advisory service to all folks ageing into–or already in–Social Security. This service provides guidance in understanding the complexities of Social Security and the myriad rules and regulations associated with the process for claiming benefits, with NSSA-Certified Social Security Advisors available via email or telephone to discuss options. Learn more about this service via the Foundation’s website.
I live in California and due to my life long mental illness that got worse now that I’m getting near my 60’s I’m now on SSDI and do not qualify for SSI due to the fact my wife works 2 jobs 7 days a week in order for us to eat and pay bills, due to my SSDI check is $740 a month. My worry is for my “wife” who herself is nearing her late 50’s and always burned out and tried and sore due to working all the time to pay the high cost of TAXAFORNIA and extremely rising high rent and fuel prices.
I love my wife dearly! this truly hurts us and killing me with guilt and shame!
Any suggestions?
I’m truly sorry for your situation and extend my sincere empathy. Unfortunately, unless your wife is totally disabled (substantiated by medical evidence), I’m afraid she is not eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. She will be eligible for her own Social Security benefits (and perhaps spousal benefits from you) when she reaches 62 years of age but, of course, that does not help your current situation. At this time I can only suggest that you investigate additional benefit options which might be available to you in your state. You can obtain a complete report describing those benefits by going to this link sponsored by the National Council on Aging: http://www.benefitscheckup.org. At this website you can enter your zip code, answer a few relatively simple questions, and receive a complete report which describes all of the Federal, State and local benefits which you and your wife might be entitled to and how to engage them. I’m hopeful that by doing this you’ll be able to find additional benefits which may ease your financial difficulties at least to some degree.
Russell Gloor
Social Security Advisor
The AMAC Foundation