Social Security and You: More Mailbag Questions About Benefits | Business news

Question: I applied for my Social Security retirement benefits over the phone this morning. But to be honest, I wasn’t very impressed with the employee who took care of me. Now I’m worried that he will mess up the amount of my Social Security benefits and I won’t be paid correctly. Is there anything I can do?

A: What you can do is stop worrying. Local Social Security agents are not actually involved in calculating your Social Security benefit. All Social Security benefits are calculated by the Social Security Administration’s national computer system. And this system has a remarkable record of accuracy. So, I am sure you will be paid correctly.

Q: We have a slightly different marriage dynamic than most couples. My wife is the main earner. She always made more money than me. Or to put it another way, I’ve always made a decent income, but my wife (a doctor) has made a great income. As we near retirement age, is there anything special we should know about Social Security?

A: Not exactly. Social Security is essentially gender neutral. In other words, the same benefits that are paid to wives are paid to husbands. And just as a spouse is always paid her own benefit first, you will also be paid your own Social Security retirement benefit. Only then will they review your wife’s file to see if you can get additional spousal benefits. But since the spousal rate (for a wife or husband) is only somewhere between 30% and 50% (depending on your age when you file), it’s doubtful you’ll get any spousal benefits on your wife’s file . That is, while she’s alive. If she predeceases you, and assuming you meet all the eligibility requirements, you will receive widow’s benefits on her record, which can go up to 100% if you are over your full retirement age.

Q: I just turned 62. I was going to wait until age 67 to file for Social Security, but I’m worried that Congress will pull the rug out from under me and cut benefits or start means-tested benefits. So now I’m thinking of filing. What do you think?

A: I think you should never make a Social Security decision based on politics. There’s no doubt that somewhere down the road, Congress will address Social Security’s pending funding shortfall. But I bet my next Social Security audit that when they do, the reforms they come up with will have a long time frame. In other words, these changes will not affect retirees in the near term, but rather people who may retire in 10 or 20 or even more years. For example, when they raised the retirement age from 65 to 67, they did it gradually over about 40 years.

Q: I was married for 22 years to a rich man, but we divorced when I was 54. Three years later I married the man I am married to today. We are both 68 and each receives their own Social Security. He gets about $2400 and I get $1850. My first husband just passed away. Is there any way I can get some of his social security?

A: Since you remarried before age 60, you cannot receive benefits from Spouse #1 while you are married to Spouse #2. I don’t want to plant any thoughts in your head, but if you divorced your current spouse, you can turn around and collect the widow’s benefits from your first husband. Then you can just continue living with your second husband. Or if it’s against your scruples to just live with a person, you can turn around and remarry him – and since you’ll be remarrying after age 60, you can continue to receive your widow’s benefits from your first husband. But before you go through all this antics, you should check with the SSA to find out what your widow’s benefit from the first husband will be. Assuming he didn’t use any payroll tax avoidance schemes, I’d guess it would be in the $3,000 per month range.

Q: Why do you never write about Medicare?

A: Because honestly, I don’t know much about it. Although Social Security and Medicare are related, they are two completely separate government programs. I worked for the Social Security Administration for 32 years. I have never worked for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (the federal agency that manages Medicare). They publish an easy-to-understand guide called “Medicare and You 2022.” You can get a free copy at medicare.gov. If you want personal help, I can point you in the right direction. You need to talk to SHIP. This means a government health insurance program. SHIP counselors are trained to help people with their Medicare problems. To find the SHIP nearest you, go to shiphelp.org.

Question: I’ve often wondered: Why doesn’t the Social Security Administration have an easy-to-remember phone number? Maybe something like 1-800-SECURIT.

A: Interesting question. And I know a little about this because at the time when SSA was creating a national 800 numbering system, I attended meetings where SSA executives were trying to decide which number to use. There were literally hundreds of suggestions, including yours. Now I can’t remember why they ended up choosing 800-772-1213. I know it was originally advertised as 800-SSA-1213. But unlike the FBI or the IRS or other government agencies known by their initials, very few people really know that the SSA stands for the Social Security Administration. So, they eventually decided to present and advertise the number simply as 800-772-1213.