Each Earners Anticipated Social Security Payments
If one partner has earned significantly more than their partner, the benefits may reflect that. A monthly reward of $1,800, for instance, may be due to Tony, who spent his working life in the accounting field.
His $2,400 benefit may be doubled if his wife, Pam, worked as a pediatrician. This distinction makes it possible for most couples to tailor the management of their benefits to meet their specific requirements, such as maximizing income in the now or in the future.
When it comes time for Tony and Pam to begin receiving their retirement benefits, they can choose between a number of different alternatives, including:
Can You Receive Ssdi And Ss Retirement Benefits At The Same Time
With only one minor exception, you cant receive both Social Security retirement benefits and disability benefits at the same time. Social Security disabilitys purpose is to give those who are unable to work because of their condition and who are too young to access their retirement benefits some sort of livable benefit. In this way, Social Security disability insurance is like a retirement benefit for those forced to retire early. Those who receive SSDI disability benefits will have them converted to retirement benefits when they reach full retirement age.
How To Switch From Spousal Benefit To Own
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Retirement benefits are available to citizens of the United States who have paid Social Security taxes for at least 40 quarters. If you paid taxes and were a member for a certain number of years, you will receive a certain sum. Spouses are eligible for half of the workers Social Security payout.
In addition to receiving a benefit based on their own earnings, many persons are also eligible to receive a spousal benefit based on their spouses earnings. Although, you can only receive one benefit at a time.
If Tom receives $2,000 per month in benefits, his wife Mary would be entitled to $1,000 per month in benefits or 50% of Toms benefit. Once both spouses reach retirement age, they will be eligible to receive a $3,000 lump sum.
When planning for retirement, the following choices accessible to Social Security beneficiaries make the right to receive spousal benefits even more significant. The overall amount of money you receive over the course of your life and how much you receive each month can be greatly improved by making smart choices.
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Talk To An Attorney About Your Options
If youre currently receiving SSI or SSDI benefits and are nearing retirement age, you should talk to an attorney about your options. You could potentially receive Social Security retirement benefits as well, but you must apply in the right way and provide the correct information to the Social Security Administration so as to avoid jeopardizing the benefits youre already receiving.
Since 1922, Handler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC has represented clients throughout Pennsylvania, taking on SSDI and SSI applications, reviews, and appeals with an unmatched level of professionalism and care. We know it can be difficult to go through the claims process without legal counsel, particularly if youre dealing with a situation where youre trying to combine retirement benefits and SSI. With our experience and understanding of Social Security disability benefits, we can guide you in the right direction.
Compelling Reasons For Early Retirement Social Security

These 4 compelling reasons may match your personal situation, but they are not mandatory reasons to start collecting Early Retirement Age. All U.S. citizens are free to begin their retirement at the time of their choice. In any case, here are four important reasons to start collecting Social Security at age 62.
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A You Can Continue Working And Start Receiving Your Retirement Benefits
If you start your benefits before your full retirement age, your benefits are reduced a fraction of a percent for each month before your full retirement age.
You can get Social Security retirement benefits and work at the same time before your full retirement age. However your benefits will be reduced if you earn more than the yearly earnings limits.
After you reach your full retirement age, we will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for any months you did not receive a benefit because of your earnings. We will send you a letter that explains any increase in your benefit amount.
If you delay filing for your benefits until after full retirement age, you will be eligible for delayed retirement credits that would increase your monthly benefit. If you also continue to work, you will be able to receive your full retirement benefits and any increase resulting from your additional earnings when we recalculate your benefits. Once you reach full retirement age, your earnings do not affect your benefit amount.
If you start receiving retirement benefits before age 65, you are automatically enrolled in Original Medicare when you turn 65. If you or your spouse are still working and covered under an employer-provided group health plan, talk to the personnel office before signing up for Medicare Part B. To learn more, read our Medicare publication.
How Much Will My Spouse Receive
If your spouse qualifies for benefits on their own record, we will pay that amount first. If the benefit on your record is higher, they will get an additional amount on your record so that the combination of benefits equals that higher amount.
If they begin receiving benefits:
If your spouse will receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security such as government employment, the amount of their Social Security benefits on your record may be reduced.
at any age
Benefits paid to your spouse will not decrease your retirement benefit. In fact, the value of the benefits they may receive, added to your own, may help you decide if taking your benefits sooner may be more advantageous.
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What’s The Difference Between Social Security Disability Insurance And Supplemental Security Income
Both SSDI and SSI pay benefits to people that the Social Security Administration determines have physical or mental disabilities severe enough to prevent them from engaging in “substantial gainful activity” for at least a year or that are expected to end in their death.
The Social Security Administration generally uses the same medical criteria to determine if a disability entitles an adult to SSDI or SSI and collecting both benefits is allowed.
SSDI is an earned benefit. As with retirement benefits, it comes from paying Social Security taxes during the course of your employment. In 2022, the estimated average monthly SSDI benefit was $1,358.
There’s a five-month waiting period for SSDI benefits, so payments will not begin before the sixth full month of disability. You’ll be eligible for Medicare coverage after you’ve received disability benefits for two years.
SSI, meanwhile, is aimed at disabled Americans with very limited income or assets. It doesn’t come from previous earnings. In fact, you can receive SSI benefits if you’ve never worked or paid Social Security tax.
But your income and assets must not go above very strict caps: In 2022, the maximum federal SSI payment was $841 a month for an individual and $1,261 for couples receiving SSI jointly. Income above those amounts can make you ineligible to receive benefits.
Other benefits, including workers compensation and pension payments, can also impact how much you receive.
Questions About Social Security Disability And Retirement
If you have questions about SSDI and Social Security retirement benefits, youre not alone. These benefits and their qualifications and restrictions can be extremely confusing. Its best to retain the services of an experienced OC social security disability attorney who can help you apply and make the most out of the benefits you are eligible to receive when you are eligible to receive them.
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Qualifying For Retirement Benefits
Retirement benefits, like SSI and SSDI, are a type of monthly payment paid to eligible Americans by the SSA. Once you have amassed enough work credits, paid into Social Security through federal taxes, and reached age 62, you can begin collecting retirement benefits. The amount of your monthly benefit depends on how much you worked, how much money you made, and whether you decide to keep working past the age of 62.
If you wait until your full retirement age , your monthly benefit will increase. And, if you are able to and decide to keep working until you are 70 years old, you can maximize your monthly retirement benefits. Once you begin receiving retirement benefits, you will continue to receive them for the rest of your life.
Working While Receiving Benefits
You may work after you start receiving benefits, which could mean a higher benefit for you in the future. We may withhold some of your benefits if you earn more than the yearly earnings limit. Sometimes people who retire in mid-year already have earned more than the annual earnings limit. However:
- We have a special rule that applies to earnings for one year, usually the first year you begin receiving benefits. This means we cannot withhold benefits for any month we consider you retired, regardless of your yearly earnings.
- After you reach full retirement age, we will recalculate your benefit amount to take into account any months you did not receive benefits because your earnings were too high.
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Age Of Deferred Retirement
With proper financial planning, you and your spouse may be able to delay Social Security benefits past the typical retirement dates. Up until age 70, your benefit will increase by 8% per year. If Mary is entitled to $1,000 at age 67, she will receive $1,240, a 24% increase, if she waits until age 70.
If you were born in 1960 or later, you should know that there is no financial benefit to deferring benefits beyond age 69. The increase in the monthly benefit cannot exceed 24%.
General Guidelines For Social Security Benefits Election

Social Security benefit eligibility should be carefully evaluated before being started. A couple can receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits, so making the wrong choice could be very costly. It is suggested that you see a professional financial planner.
An engaged couple should think about the following before filing for benefits:
You should claim either the Spousal Benefit or your partners Eligible Benefit, whichever is higher. The higher benefit amount is guaranteed to remain in effect for the duration of the widow benefit.
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Cola Increase Will Cause Thousands Of Americans To Lose Social Security In Taxes
Retirement in the United States is both an important and individual time. All retirees must decide when they want to apply for Social Security. As a free country, this free choice is fine, but it is best to know all the details before applying for retirement from the Social Security Administration.
The Early Retirement Age requires a sacrifice with respect to the final amount of the monthly check. That is why it is important to know in detail what we get by applying early for retirement.
With this in mind it is important to know 4 compelling reasons why applying for Early Retirement Age is a good idea. Although doing so eliminates about 30% of the money contributed, it can be worthwhile in some contexts. So consider claiming your Social Security if you find yourself in one of these situations. Is your case one of them?
D You Can Stop Working And Not Begin Receiving Your Retirement Benefits
We calculate your benefits based on your highest 35 years of earnings. If you stop working before you have 35 years of earnings, or you have low earnings for some years, this will affect your benefit calculation. However, if you wait to start benefits after you reach full retirement age, your benefits will increase for each month you do not receive them until you reach age 70. There is no incentive to delay filing for your benefits after age 70.
If you are not receiving your Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you will need to apply for Original Medicare three months before you turn 65. If you dont sign up for Medicare Part B when youre first eligible at age 65, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Medicare coverage.
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Fers Disability Retirement Requirements
To be eligible for the FERS disability program, federal employees must have worked in a covered position for at least 18 months.
In addition, an employee must have become disabled while employed and the disability must be expected to last for at least one year. Importantly, however, a work-related injury or illness need not have caused the disability.
Federal employees can apply for disability retirement benefits at any age.
Medical Retirement: Calculating Fers Disability Benefits
What feds need to know regarding rules, eligibility, and the application process for the FERS disability retirement.
First off, if you are a federal employee who is able to take an immediate FERS pension, then that is probably the route to take, even if you become disabled. If you think there is a possibility that you might try to return after you leave federal service, then a disability retirement might be an option for you. In this article, well explore how age, length of service, and Social Security impacts a FERS disability retirement calculation.
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Withdrawing Both Social Security And Medicare Benefits
There is additional information to consider if you also withdraw your Medicare coverage.
- You must repay all Medicare Part A benefits paid on your behalf.
- Your Medicare Part B coverage is treated as a voluntary termination. You will have Part B coverage for the month you requested the withdrawal and the next month.
- If you file for benefits and Medicare again later, your Part B premiums may be higher due to your late enrollment.
Withdrawing from Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B can also affect your coverage under a Medicare Advantage plan and Medicare Part D .
- Your Medicare Advantage enrollment will automatically end if you withdraw from Medicare Part A, Part B, or both.
- You will no longer be eligible for Medicare Part D if you withdraw from Medicare Part A and Part B. You will pay a penalty if you enroll in Medicare Part D in the future.
- If you keep Part A or Part B, you are still eligible for Medicare Part D.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will handle your future bills for Part B premiums if you decide to keep that coverage. You can choose to pay the bill automatically from your bank or financial institution.
You may need to have a personal interview if you want to terminate Part B. Learn more about terminating Medicare Part B.
Benefits For Your Divorced Spouse
If you are divorced, your ex-spouse can receive benefits based on your record if:
- Your marriage lasted 10 years or longer.
- Your ex-spouse is unmarried.
- Your ex-spouse is age 62 or older.
- The benefit that your ex-spouse is entitled to receive based on their own work is less than the benefit they would receive based on your work.
- You are entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits.
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One: Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits
Why? Because when a federal employee applies for FERS disability retirement, the employee must indicate whether he or she has applied for Social Security disability benefits.
Remember, you do not have to be approved for SSDI, but you must apply.
The applicant also must attach a copy of the Social Security application receipt or award notice to the FERS disability retirement application.
If a disabled employee receives Social Security disability payments, the amount of federal disability retirement payments under FERS will be reduced.
Importantly, if the Social Security Administration denies disability benefits, federal employees still may be entitled to FERS disability retirement payments.
Retirement And Spousal Benefits

Youll need to provide an array of personal and work information, including:
- Your date and place of birth.
- Start and stop dates for jobs held in the past two years .
- Military service, if applicable.
- The routing number of the bank where you want Social Security to deposit your payment, and the number and type of your account.
Social Security provides a complete checklist of what youll need for your application.
When you can file: The minimum age to apply for both retirement and spouse benefits is 62, but monthly payments are higher if you wait longer.
Where to file:Online, by phone or in person.
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