Q & A
My husband and I separated but remained married even though lived with another woman for the last decade. He died recently. Can I receive Social Security benefits as his widow even though we have been apart for years?
Answer: If monthly Social Security survivor benefits are payable, they would be paid to you as the legal widow. Since you were not living together, a one-time payment of $255 to help offset funeral costs is usually not payable. Survivor benefits based…
What are the Social Security death benefits for a divorced spouse?
Full Question: I have heard conflicting information about Social Security death benefits for a divorced spouse. We divorced after 18 years and I have not remarried. What percent of his benefit is available to me? My own Social Security is…
Why should I sign up for a my Social Security online account?
Answer: my Social Security gives you a personal online account you can securely use to check your Social Security information and do business with us. With a my Social Security account you can: – Keep track of your earnings and verify…
How do I know if I meet the eligibility requirements to get Social Security disability benefits?
Answer: To qualify for Social Security disability benefits, you must have worked long enough in jobs covered by Social Security (usually 10 years). You must also have a medical condition that meets Social Security’s strict definition of disability. We consider an…
How do I appeal a decision on my application for disability benefits?
Answer: When we make a decision on your application, we’ll send you a letter explaining our decision. If you don’t agree with our decision, you can ask us to look at your case again, or appeal it. You must appeal within…
I will rely on Medicare when I retire. Can you explain the different parts of Medicare?
Answer: Answer: The different parts of Medicare cover your specific needs. There are four parts, all of which work in tandem to deliver health care services. Part A (hospital insurance): Hospital insurance helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled…
Will my pension reduce Social Security amounts?
Answer: Pensions do not usually reduce SSA amounts, but in very limited cases, mostly involving people who had government employment without paying into Social Security, they can result in a lower SSA amount. The key here is that the employment was…
I went to court and the Judge found me 90% disabled. Now I get checks from workers compensation but my Social Security amount was cut in half. I really didn’t benefit from my workers compensation case. Social Security says it’s because I am receiving workers compensation that they_cut my social security check. Why did they do that?
Answer: I do not know how old you are so I can only tell you that you are experiencing a social security off-set. When you reach retirement age for social security purposes, which is a moving target depending on what…
Does Common Law Marriage Allow Divorced Spousal Benefits?
Full Question: I was married to my ex-husband for three years but lived with him for 10 years before that. We lived in Alaska and were divorced in 1987. He has been on a disability for about 15 years. Can I…
Is Marriage Required for Widow’s Benefits?
Full Question: My question is that my mother did not marry my father, but she was with him for 11 years before he died in a car accident. We, the children, all received Social Security check money. When we got older,…