Q & A
Ask Rusty – About Social Security’s “First Year Rule” and Withdrawing from SS
Dear Rusty: I am 63 years old, and about to apply for my Social Security benefits. I am self-employed but only working part time. I know about Social Security’s annual earnings limit but recently I learned I must also be…
Ask Rusty – I’m Still Working; Why Didn’t I Get a Higher Social Security Benefit?
Dear Rusty: I began collecting benefits at age 72 and am now 78. Since that time, I have continued to work and have contributed over $40,000 to Social Security over the last six years. At the time of my retirement,…
Dear Rusty – I Want to do Everything Right When I Claim Social Security
Dear Rusty: I will be 62 in two years. I plan on signing up for SS at age 62, but I have heard there are details that are important when signing up. When it comes time, I want to make…
Ask Rusty – Should I collect SS now or wait two years until age 70?
Dear Rusty: I am 67 and 9 months old, collecting a modest SS survivor benefit with plans to collect my own much larger benefit at age 70. I was confident this plan was a good one; but recent turbulent events make me…
Ask Rusty – Must I Set Up a Social Security Account to Enroll in Medicare?
Dear Rusty: I turn 65 this November 2026. Someone told me I need to set up a Social Security account at least 3 months ahead of time before applying for Medicare for the first time. I do not intend to…
Ask Rusty – If Either of us Die, Will the other Get a Survivor Benefit from Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I am 79. My husband is also 79 and we both receive Social Security benefits. We were both married before, and we married each other at the age of 58. Am I to understand correctly that when either of us dies, the surviving spouse is not…
Ask Rusty – I’ll Be 65 Soon and am Working. Must I enroll in Medicare?
Dear Rusty: I will be 65 in October and I am working full-time. My goal is to work until age 67, which is my full retirement age, or until age 70. I heard I have to apply for Medicare Part…
Ask Rusty – I’ll be 70 on New Year’s Day. When Should I Apply for Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I was born on January 1st, 1958, so I believe Social Security considers me to be 70 as of December 2027. I’m planning on filing when I turn 70 to maximize the payment. I’m not sure if I…
Ask Rusty – Help! Social Security Reduced my Monthly Payment
Dear Rusty: My last Social Security payment decreased by about $400, so I went to my online SS account and found a November 2025 letter explaining that my 2024 tax return showed a greatly enlarged AGI (Adjusted Gross Income). Thus, SSA decided to…
Ask Rusty – When Will I Get Full Credit for Delaying my SS Retirement?
Dear Rusty: The time is nearing that I want to move from my current Social Security survivor benefit to my own SS retirement benefit at 70 years of age. I have been looking more deeply into the application of Delayed…