Q & A
Ask Rusty – About Applying for Social Security Benefits
Dear Rusty: I will be turning 65 this December and will most likely continue working until July of 2024 at my current job. It is possible I could leave a year earlier. With that being said, when should I submit…
Ask Rusty – Surviving Spouse Benefits Explained
Dear Rusty: If I file at age 63 what percentage does my wife receive if I die? Does this percentage change if I wait to file closer to my full retirement age? And what does my wife receive if I…
Ask Rusty – About the “Restricted Application for Spousal Benefits Only”
Dear Rusty: You wrote an article about a man who was collecting spouse benefits but was applying for his own benefit at age 70, under an old law. What are the circumstances surrounding that gentleman’s ability to collect spousal benefits?…
Ask Rusty – Younger Widow Asks About Collecting Survivor Benefits
Dear Rusty: My husband died several years ago in 2019. It is my understanding that I should be receiving some portion of his Social Security payments. However, when I called to notify Social Security that he passed, they told me…
Ask Rusty – Military Wife Turning 65 Seeks Information About Medicare
Dear Rusty: My husband is 63 and I will be 65 in a few months. He’s retired from the Air Force, so we currently have Tricare Select. As I understand it, I only need to sign up for Medicare Part…
Ask Rusty – Can My Wife Claim a Spouse Benefit First?
Dear Rusty: I have been getting Social Security since age 66. My wife turned 62 in June. We are thinking of taking her spouse benefits on my record since it would be higher than hers (we checked online). We began…
Ask Rusty – What Are My Wife’s Benefits While I’m Living and as My Widow?
Dear Rusty: I will be 70 in January and my wife will be 65 in February, at which time we will both go on Medicare. I am currently working, and my approximate Social Security benefit will be around $2,900. My…
Ask Rusty – Do My Canadian Earnings Count Toward U.S. Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I am a 62 year old Canadian holding a green card and I have lived in the US for nearly twenty-three years. For 19 years prior I contributed to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) which is the equivalent…
Ask Rusty – How Do We Apply for My Wife’s Spousal Benefit?
Dear Rusty: I am 70 years old and just started receiving my Social Security benefits about 4 months ago and I get close to $3700 per month. My wife is 65 years old and worked sporadically over the years so…
Ask Rusty – I’m 78 and Still Working; Should I Apply for Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I am 78, still working, have a good healthcare plan and I make a nice salary. Can I still get my Social Security check since I paid into it all these years? Signed: Still Working in My 70s…