Q & A
Ask Rusty – Survivor’s Benefits and the RIB LIM (benefit limit)
Dear Rusty: My friend and I, both very recently widowed, were discussing our future and, based upon the suggestion of other friends, need to explore applying to Social Security for survivor’s benefits. We’ve tried to research this online and by…
Ask Rusty – Bend Points & Means Testing
Dear Rusty: I was having coffee with several of my neighbors the other day, and the long-term financial health of Social Security came up. With all of the media coverage of the program running out of reserves in a few…
Ask Rusty – Delayed Retirement Credits and Restricted Application
Dear Rusty: My wife is 66 and not collecting S.S. She wants to wait until age 70 to collect the larger benefit, but I know she could collect now and her payments will grow if she continues to work until…
Ask Rusty – Disability after starting Social Security Benefits
Dear Rusty: I am now 64 years old and started taking my Social Security at 62. I continued to work part time since I applied, until December of last year when I was disabled from a bad car accident. I…
Ask Rusty – Collecting SS and Income Taxes; early retirement and working
Dear Rusty: My husband just starting collecting Social Security at his full retirement age. If he wants a part time job how much money does he have to stay under not to mess up his SS income? Someone told us…
Ask Rusty – High earners and the Family Maximum
Dear Rusty: My question is this: If both spouses are high earners with significant Social Security contributions in their own right, delaying their benefits to get a bigger Social Security amount could mean they well exceed the maximum “family” payment.…
Ask Rusty – Ex-spouse benefit: Does it affect mine?
Dear Rusty: Two years ago, after 34 years of marriage, my wife divorced me. She was a full time homemaker most of those years. Is she entitled to half of my Social Security benefit when I collect at age 62?…
Ask Rusty – WEP: Windfall Elimination Provision
Dear Rusty: During my first career, which lasted about 25 years, I worked for companies that withheld Social Security FICA taxes from my income. In my new second career my employer doesn’t take Social Security from my wages, but I’ll…
Ask Rusty – Delayed Retirement Credits vs. collecting benefits and continuing to earn
Dear Rusty: My wife is now 66 and not collecting Social Security. She wants to wait until age 70 to collect the larger benefit. However, I know that she could collect now and her payments will grow if she continues…
Ask Rusty – Deemed Filing & 50% of Spouse’s Benefit
Dear Rusty: I would like to know more about spousal benefits allowing a husband or wife to receive up to 50 percent of a spouse’s Social Security benefits. I believe it is called spousal deeming of Social Security benefits, and…