Q & A
Ask Rusty – Doing a Breakeven Analysis
Dear Rusty: I’m in a bit of quandary trying to decide whether I should take my Social Security now at 62, or wait until some later time, like maybe when I’m 66. I know that I’ll get less money by…
Ask Rusty – Should my wife wait until age 66 to claim benefits?
Dear Rusty: I will be at my full retirement age of 66 in June. I now work part time and plan to continue for the foreseeable future. My wife will be 63 in June. She now works full time but…
Ask Rusty – Working Internationally and Social Security
Dear Rusty: For a number of years I lived and worked in Germany. I paid into their version of social security. As far as I know I will be eligible to receive German benefits either in a lump sum or…
Ask Rusty – Paying FICA doesn’t change benefits
Dear Rusty: I am 73 and self-employed, but each year I must pay self-employment tax – money for Social Security and Medicare – as part of my income taxes. I have been collecting Social Security since I was 62, and…
Ask Rusty – Speeding up Social Security Disability Claims
Dear Rusty: I have been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and my condition has gone downhill pretty fast, to the point that I’m not able to work anymore. I think I could get Social Security disability, but from what…
Ask Rusty – Divorced Spouse Benefits
Dear Rusty: Thank you for your Social Security articles, which a group of friends and I read every week. If it had not been for one of your articles, I wouldn’t have known that I could get benefits on my…
Ask Rusty – One Word to Get Extra Benefits
Dear Rusty: I keep receiving emails from different investor groups about “The one word that will get you an extra $570 per month in social security,” which I could use. Of course they want you to buy all sorts of…
Ask Rusty – Suspending Benefits to Return to Work
Dear Rusty: At age 63 I applied for Social Security benefits after double knee replacement. I am considering returning to work and am curious whether to stop benefits while working. Is it a better avenue to continue to receive benefits…
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…