Q & A
Ask Rusty – Will WEP and GPO Affect My Wife’s Spousal Benefit?
Dear Rusty: My wife worked for the US Postal Service in New York for about 22 years, and then in the private sector for about 15 years. She began collecting her “deferred annuity” from the USPS at age 62 and…
Ask Rusty – My State Pension Eliminated My Social Security Survivor Benefit
Dear Rusty: My husband of 21 years died in January 2022 at the age of 70. We were both retired at the time of his death, and they immediately stopped his Social Security payments. After many calls to Social Security…
Ask Rusty – Why Can’t I Collect Survivor Benefits from My Deceased Wife?
Dear Rusty: I am a 62 year old widower that is still working full time. While my late spouse was in hospice, I was able to get her to apply for Social Security disability and she received one payment before…
Ask Rusty – About Income Tax on Social Security Benefits
Dear Rusty: I just started receiving my Social Security in February of 2023. I am also working part time at a company 24 hours a week. My question is… I feel like I missed something when I signed up for…
Ask Rusty – Working Widow Seeks to Maximize Social Security Benefits
Dear Rusty: I was widowed years ago and, when I approached age 60, I looked into Social Security survivor benefits based on my late husband’s record. He started receiving Social Security shortly before he died at $1,200 per month. My…
Ask Rusty – Will Work Earnings Affect My Social Security at Age 80?
Dear Rusty: I am 80 years old, and I receive monthly Social Security benefits, but I’m thinking about returning to work. At this age, am I limited in how much income I generate without affecting my benefit? If so, how…
Ask Rusty – How Will Working Affect My First Year’s Benefits?
Dear Rusty: I retired from working in January of this year and have since claimed Social Security. I didn’t work at all in February or March, but I began a part-time job in April. I’m very confused about how Social…
Ask Rusty – What If I Delay but Die Before Claiming Social Security?
Dear Rusty: Hypothetically, if I plan to sign up for Social Security at 70 and pass away before that, I will get nothing. My spouse would still get a boost in the amount she receives because I made more, but…
Ask Rusty – I’m Approaching 65 – Should I Claim Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I am fast approaching 65 (in August) and plan to continue working full time. I would like to know the implications of that, and about drawing Social Security. Same question for my husband who is past his full…
Ask Rusty – I’m Concerned About Social Security Solvency
Dear Rusty: I retired at age 58. My husband and I worked 40 years of employment each. I had a 401K only…no other benefits. We saved, we invested through our financial advisor and have done okay watching our investments grow…