Q & A
Ask Rusty – Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits
Dear Rusty: My question is how to apply for disability? I suffer from blepharospasms (facial dystonia) of both eyes, non-diabetic neuropathy in both feet and lower legs, and have a hearing loss related to my occupation as a police officer…
Ask Rusty – When Should I Apply for Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I will be turning 62 in 2018; birth date 9/24/1955. My husband is 77 and receiving Social Security. Longevity runs in my family. I have been self-employed all my life. I am still working and my husband collects…
Ask Rusty – Losing Benefits You Have Earned
Dear Rusty: I’m 73 years old and have finally decided to call it quits from working and start taking life easy. My wife is 72 and has never worked outside our home, but we’re both in good health and are…
Ask Rusty – COLA, Medicare Premiums and the Hold Harmless Provision
Dear Rusty: My wife and I got the annual notification of our Social Security earnings starting Jan 1, 2018. UNBELIEVABLE! I will get a gross COLA increase of $31.00 a month, but I will only get $6.00. The remaining $25.00…
Ask Rusty – Social Security Credit for Military Pay
Dear Rusty: I have tried to contact Social Security many times but been put on hold for over 40 minutes, received no call back, etc. Also, I tried to find out online at my S.S. account, but got no answers…
Ask Rusty – Computing Spousal Benefits
Dear Rusty: I read an article today which talked about how one spouse’s benefits should be 50% of the other spouse’s and about something called a “spousal boost”. I do not make 50% of my husband’s Social Security benefit and…
Ask Rusty – Maximizing benefits and When to Retire
Dear Rusty: I am looking for advice regarding maximizing social security benefits. In our case, my husband is 59 and has been on Social Security Disability for about 5 years. I am also 59 and work full time as a…
Ask Rusty – Estimated vs Actual Benefits
Dear Rusty: I am going to stop working in October 2018 at age 62. I do not want to start drawing my Social Security then (at age 62 it would be $1,005/month; normal retirement is 66 years, 4 months, $1,454/month).…
Ask Rusty – Survivors Benefit vs. Retirement Benefit
Dear Rusty: I am a 58 year old widow, born in 1958. My husband, born in 1953, was collecting Social Security Disability benefits when he died, worked throughout his lifetime and had earned enough credits to be eligible for regular…
Ask Rusty – Maximizing Widow’s Benefits
Dear Rusty: I am 64 years old, born in October of 1952, and in rapidly declining health. I took my Social Security early, as soon as I was 62, and now get $1838 per month in Social Security benefits (before…