Q & A
I am about to get married, and I currently receive Supplemental Security Income. Will getting married affect my payments?
Answer: Yes, getting married can change your SSI benefits, and you need to report it. If you marry, your spouse’s income and resources may change your SSI benefit. If you and your spouse both get SSI, your benefit amount will change…
My father receives Supplemental Security Income. He recently moved, but he hasn’t reported his new address to Social Security yet. What’s the easiest way to do that?
Answer: You can check your address online by using your personal my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. It is very important that Social Security has your father’s most up-to-date information, including any change in income, resources or living arrangements. This will guarantee…
How does Social Security measure up 80 years after being signed into law?
Answer: Generations of Americans have been protected against poverty thanks in large measure to this social safety net signed into law 80 years ago on August 14, 1935. Without question, Social Security is tightly woven into the social fabric of America.…
We took our son off of our DEERS file when he moved out at age 17. He turned 18 a few months ago and has moved back home to go to school. Can we put him back on our DEERS?
Answer: Yes. Your son remains eligible to be listed as your dependent in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System under your family sponsor’s name until he turns 21, or 23 if he is a full-time college student. After that, he can…
Someone stole my Social Security number, and it’s being used repeatedly. Does Social Security issue new Social Security numbers to victims of repeated identity theft?
Answer: Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America, so you aren’t alone. If you’ve done all you can to identify and fix the problem, including contacting the Federal Trade Commission, but someone is still using your…
How do we refile for Social Security?
Full Question: My wife and I both turn 66 this fall. She took an early retirement at 62 but only receives $232.00 per month. My estimated retirement is $2350 per month, and have heard that she is entitled to 50% of…
I am 60 years old. I have only worked sparingly throughout my life and will get a very small Social Security check. I was counting on sharing in my husband’s much larger check. But suddenly, after 39 years of marriage, he has decided he wants a change. He’s moved in with another woman. He wants a divorce, but I don’t want to give it to him because I don’t want this other woman getting all of his Social Security and leaving me with nothing. He is 61 and is still working and I don’t think he will retire until he’s 70. What can I do?
Answer: The best thing you can do, at least from a Social Security perspective, is divorce this man. And that’s because the rules provide a bit of a break to a divorced woman. I’ll explain. As long as you are married to…
What is a “restricted application” and how does it work?
Answer: Restricted application takes place when someone who is full retirement age (that’s 66 or 67 depending on when you were born) applies for spousal benefits only and delays his or her own benefits allowing them to grow 8 percent a…
Will military retirement reduce my Social Security amount?
Answer: It will not, as explained below but the question brings up a topic not mentioned for a while, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Pensions are not usually considered when computing your Social Security benefit and do not reduce SSA retirement…
How are Social Security benefits calculated, and how do I find out how much I will get when I retire?
Answer: Your Social Security benefits are based on the number of years you’ve worked in jobs covered by Social Security, the amount you earned each year and your age when you start taking benefits. The size of your benefit is based…