Q & A
Ask Rusty – Should I Claim Family Benefits?
Dear Rusty: I was born in 1956 and my wife in 1961. I’ve got 45 years of SSA earnings, and I will have income in 2021. We have 4 minor children, the youngest born in 2012. When is the best…
Ask Rusty –Should I Claim Social Security at 62, or Wait Longer?
Dear Rusty: I turn 62 next year, and I am getting different answers to my questions so I hope you can help me. The amount I would collect is different at 67 and 72. If I start to collect Social…
Ask Rusty – When Should I Claim My Survivor Benefit?
Dear Rusty: My wife passed away in 2014. I’m 60 years old and have been retired since August 2020. I know I’m entitled to survivor benefits, but my question relates to when to file for them. To say the information…
Ask Rusty – Why Can’t I Get Survivor Benefits from My Husband?
Dear Rusty: My husband and I were only married 5 years before he passed away from cancer. I am 61 and was told by SS that I don’t qualify to receive his survivor benefits because we weren’t married long enough,…
Ask Rusty – Can I Get a Higher Benefit Now Because I’m Older?
Dear Rusty: I started getting Social Security at age 62 and I am now 77. Can I get a higher benefit now that I’m older? Signed: Needy Senior Dear Needy Senior: Probably not. When you first start collecting your Social…
Ask Rusty – Why Did Social Security Ask My Mother This Question?
Dear Rusty: When my father passed away and we went to update my mother’s Social Security benefits, a question arose that I was confused by. We were asked “Do you want to claim just your father’s benefit (which was larger)…
Ask Rusty – Will My UK Pension Affect My US Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I am 57 years old, was born in the UK, and since 1988 have worked in the US. I have always paid US taxes and Social Security. For the last 20 years, my annual income has typically been…
Ask Rusty – Will My Retirement Benefits Be Cut Because of My State Pension?
Dear Rusty: I took early retirement at 20 years from the Louisiana public school system in 1996. Since then, I have continued to work in private schools (except for 2 years in public). I now have over 20 years in…
Ask Rusty – Should My Wife Wait Until Age 70 to Claim?
Dear Rusty: I’m 74 and receiving my Social Security benefits. My wife is 68 and we are delaying her benefits until she’s 70. But I read an article about a wife receiving half of her husband’s benefit, which makes me…
Ask Rusty – Will Applying for SS Disability Hurt SS Retirement Benefit?
Dear Rusty: My husband turns 65 later this month. He has started having health issues – so much so that we are thinking about talking to his doctor about Social Security Disability. How would this affect him in applying for…