Q & A
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…
Ask Rusty – College benefits for dependent child?
Dear Rusty: I am an older father, having recently been blessed with another child from my second marriage. I started collecting Social Security at my full retirement age and although my current wife is not yet eligible to receive benefits,…
Ask Rusty – Delayed Retirement Credits
Dear Rusty: I have delayed taking my Social Security retirement benefits for about 3 years past my full retirement age. I now want to start collecting benefits and am confused about the benefit calculation if I start midyear. Yesterday, I…
Ask Rusty – SSDI and the Ticket to Work Program
Dear Rusty: I am 60 and currently getting Social Security Disability, but I would like to return to work as much as possible. I am concerned with how my earned income would affect my Social Security at age 65 (or…
Ask Rusty – Railroad Retirement Benefits vs Social Security
Dear Rusty: My neighbor was a long time employee of the railroad and has told me that he doesn’t receive Social Security like I do, but rather gets Railroad Retirement Benefits which are, according to him, better than Social Security.…
Ask Rusty – Should I retire now or maximize?
Dear Rusty: I am 66, born 5/17/51, and planning for filing for my social security benefit. My husband is 60 and will be working for the next 7-10 years. We have our own corporation; he is a clinical psychologist and…
Ask Rusty – Government Pension Offset (GPO)
Dear Rusty: Several years ago the husband of a friend of mine died before he collected any of his Social Security. She applied for widow benefits from his Social Security, but she was told that because she had never paid…
Ask Rusty – IRMAA and Medicare Premiums
Dear Rusty: Due to my adjusted income in 2015 my wife and I (70 & 66) now have over $400 taken from our monthly Social Security fixed income to pay for our share of Medicare. I was let go from…
Ask Rusty – Taxing Social Security Benefits
Dear Rusty: My wife started collecting Social Security at her full retirement age of 66. I am 60 and still working, and I think it is unfair that we must add her Social Security earnings to mine when we file…