Q & A
I’m an Air Force retiree whose wife uses Medicare/Tricare for Life. All has gone well so far, but now her doctor says he’s going to stop taking Medicare on assignment and has suggested my wife might want to look into a Medicare Advantage plan. Doctors who accept Medicare assignment are fairly scarce in our area. Since TFL always pays last, how would it work if she joined a Medicare supplement or Part C plan?
Answer: Should your wife choose to go with a Medicare Part C plan, she would not lose eligibility for Tricare for Life, but the way her health care is paid for would change a bit. If she signed up for a…
What are the rules for getting Social Security benefits outside of the United States?
Answer: I’ve been saving up some questions from readers who either live, or plan to live, outside the United States. Of course, all of their questions have to do with their eligibility for Social Security benefits. Before I go any further,…
I work part time as an employee and receive a W-2 for those wages, plus I have separate self-employment earnings that I pay taxes on each year. Only the W-2 wages appear on my most recent Social Security statement. Since I have been paying self-employment taxes, how do I fix this to include my self-employment?
Answer: Most people who pay into Social Security work for an employer. Their employer deducts Social Security taxes from their paycheck, matches that contribution, sends taxes to the IRS, and reports wages to Social Security. If registered for Social Security Administration’s…
If My Income Is $40,000 Per Year, Can I Still Receive A Retirement Benefit At 62?
Full Question: Can a person be working full time, making about $40,000 per year and still start receiving Social Security benefits at age 62? I know there will be a reduction in the monthly benefit from what it would be if…
Is There Any Hardship Allowance after Caring for an Ill Parent?
Full Question: I was an account manager in the building supplies industry, but was laid off in 2008. At the same time, my mother fell very ill with multiple sclerosis and required a lot of help. As her only son, and…
Can I File on My Ex’s Record while on Disability?
Full Question: I get disability of $1,603 monthly. My ex just retired and is remarried. We were married for 21 years. He is 65 and I’m 63. Do I qualify for any of his SS? He retired as a major on…
How might a government pension affect your Social Security?
Full Question: In a previous article, you wrote about a Social Security program referred to as Government Pension Offset. This particular program should not affect me, but I may be affected by its sister program referred to as the Windfall Elimination…
Can income hurt benefits?
Answer: You may be counting on Social Security as a mainstay of income in your looming retirement. But when you take those benefits and how long you continue to work are both factors that can shrink that monthly check. When you receive…
What types of retirement planning tools does Social Security offer?
Answer: Social Security’s Retirement Planner provides detailed information about your Social Security retirement benefits under current law. It also points out things you may want to consider as you prepare for the future. At www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2 you can: — Find your retirement…
I am 63, married and we are both working. My wife is two years younger than I am. I want to retire at 65. When should I start taking my social security?
Answer: The Social Security Administration is a great place to start. It will answer your questions, help you make sure your credits are correct and, with the help of your financial adviser, plan your distribution strategy. Check your Social Security statement…