Q & A
Ask Rusty – My Birthday is on the 1st of the Month; When Should I Claim Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I will be 62 on November first and I have chosen to take my benefits early. I know that my benefit will be less than it would be if I waited and that does not concern me, but…
Ask Rusty – Can My Wife Claim Her Benefit Now, and Switch to a Spouse Benefit from Me Later?
Dear Rusty: Can my wife claim her benefits now (at 63, and we know about the reduction for claiming early) and then, when I retire at 66 years and 10 months of age almost 3 years from now, can she…
Ask Rusty – How Will My Wife’s Social Security Be Affected by her Teacher’s Pension?
Dear Rusty: My wife, born in 1960, was a Texas school teacher for about 10 years and receives a $1,000 per month pension from that work. She didn’t pay into Social Security while teaching, but she paid into it for…
Ask Rusty – How Do Disability Programs Affect Social Security’s Budget?
Dear Rusty: I read with interest an analysis of the history, reasons, and financial costs of the SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) programs. My question is, specifically, what portion of the Social Security budget goes…
Ask Rusty – About Federal Taxation of Social Security Benefits
Dear Rusty: Why are my Social Security benefits being taxed at all? The Social Security FICA payroll taxes taken out of my paycheck while I was working were paid with taxable income. Signed: Disgruntled Taxpayer Dear Disgruntled Taxpayer: Many Americans…
Ask Rusty – Nonagenarian War Veteran Asks About Extra Credit for his Service
Dear Rusty: I’m turning 95 this year and am caretaker for my wife in our 70th year of marriage. I served before 1968 (1951-53) during the Korean War. How do the “special extra credits for military service” work for me?…
Ask Rusty – Will Opening a Joint Account Affect My Disabled Father’s “SSI?”
Dear Rusty: I live in Michigan and my senior disabled father lives in rural Kentucky. His income is part Social Security and part disability. I talked to a local credit union near his home and explained I would like to…
Ask Rusty – Why Is my Age 70 Benefit not Higher Than My January Amount?
Dear Rusty: I plan to retire in 2025 (the year I turn 70). Given that I’m still working, I’m delaying my Social Security until that year. I noticed on my Social Security statement that my payment in January of 2025…
Ask Rusty – I’m 64. When Should I Claim My Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I am 64 years old and still working full time. My question is – when should I start my Social Security? I would like to start it in January 2024 and go part time at work, but would…
Ask Rusty – What About All the Money Congress Stole from Social Security?
Dear Rusty: Is there any way that Congress will vote to pay back the Social Security funds they took for their stupid reasons, and left IOUs in place of the funds? Because of the funds they took going back many…