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Will Social Security benefits of $13,920 be taxable for single person with partial blindness?
Just started receiving my Social Security retirement benefits this year and trying to figure out the tax situation. My annual SS benefit will be around $13,920. I'm single with no dependents. Will I need to pay federal taxes on these benefits? I have partial blindness in my left eye (about 60% vision loss), but I was told I don't qualify for disability benefits since I'm not considered legally blind. My only other income is about $4,500 from a part-time job. I've heard different things about whether SS is taxable and I'm worried about getting hit with a surprise tax bill next April.
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Social Security spousal benefits timing when turning 65 - husband already collecting since 65
I'm approaching my 65th birthday in a few months and trying to figure out the best timing for applying for Social Security. My husband started his retirement benefits at 65 (he's now 69). Since his benefit amount is significantly higher than what I'd receive on my own record, I know I'll be applying for spousal benefits instead of my own retirement benefit. I've read so many conflicting things about when exactly I should submit my application. Some people say 3 months before, others say apply right at 65. Does it matter exactly when I file if I'm taking the spousal benefit? Will I get retroactive payments if I apply a month or two after turning 65? And do I need to bring any special documentation since I'm applying as a spouse rather than on my own work record? Thanks to anyone who can help clarify this process!
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Smart approach! One more thing to consider in your decision: If you're still working and plan to continue past age 65, option #3 (waiting until FRA) might be best because you avoid the earnings limit completely. But if you're not working or earning under the threshold, then comparing the actual benefit amounts for options 1 and 2 makes the most sense. And remember that spousal benefits don't earn delayed retirement credits past FRA, so there's no advantage to waiting beyond your FRA of 67.
Confused about SS spousal benefits after divorce - can I still get auxiliary benefits while delaying my own until 70?
I'm turning full retirement age this month and planning to file for Social Security in January. My ex and I were married for 17 years before divorcing 12 years ago. He's 68 and already collecting his Social Security benefits. I called SSA yesterday thinking I had a clever strategy - apply for divorced spousal benefits on my ex's record now, then wait until I'm 70 to claim my own retirement benefit so it can grow with delayed retirement credits. The agent I spoke with said I don't qualify for any auxiliary spouse benefit because my own Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is higher than 50% of my ex-husband's. Is this accurate? I thought I could choose which benefit to take first. Did the rules change at some point? I've been planning my retirement around this strategy for years, and now I'm completely confused about my options. If I really can't get any ex-spouse benefits, should I just file for my own retirement now or still wait until 70?
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Just want to add something most people don't realize - if your ex dies, the rules change completely! Then you'd be eligible for survivor benefits which could be up to 100% of what your ex was receiving (not just 50%). Since he's 68 and already collecting, this is something to be aware of for future planning, even though nobody wants to think about that scenario.
That's actually really helpful to know. I hadn't considered survivor benefits at all. So if my ex passes away, I could potentially receive his full benefit amount if it's higher than mine? Is there any way to know what he's receiving now so I can compare it to my own PIA?
You're correct that survivor benefits work differently. If your ex passes away, you could receive up to 100% of what he was receiving (not just 50% of his PIA). However, SSA won't tell you what your ex-spouse is receiving - that's private information. You'd only find out the survivor benefit amount if/when you apply for it after his passing. But you could make an educated guess based on his work history - if he had higher earnings than you throughout his career, his benefit might be higher than yours. If you're unsure, it's best to file for survivor benefits if that unfortunate event occurs, as SSA will automatically give you the higher of the two benefits anyway.
Thanks everyone for the helpful explanations. I feel much clearer about my options now. Since I was born in 1958, I'm subject to the newer rules and can't do a restricted application. I'm going to crunch some numbers to decide whether to claim now at my FRA or wait until 70. Given my family history of longevity (both parents lived past 90), I'm leaning toward waiting to maximize my lifetime benefit, but I need to make sure I can afford to wait financially. I still wish the SSA rep had explained all this to me on the phone! They just said "no" without explaining why or what my options were. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to walk me through this.
Can I claim Social Security spousal benefits from ex-husband after SSDI? Reaching FRA this year
I've been collecting SSDI for about 8 years now and I'm finally reaching my full retirement age (FRA) this year. My situation is a bit complicated - I was married for 14 years before getting divorced, and the divorce happened before I went on disability. I never remarried after the divorce. What I'm wondering is: can I now get any benefits based on my ex-husband's Social Security record? I've heard something about "topping off" benefits when you reach full retirement age, but I'm not sure if that applies to my situation as a divorced spouse who's been on SSDI. My monthly SSDI payment is about $1,430, and I know my ex-husband made significantly more than me during our working years. Does anyone know if I'd qualify for additional money when I reach my FRA? The whole divorced spouse benefit thing is confusing me!
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one more thing - make sure ur getting the EXACT right amounts. my mom thought she was getting everything she should but my sister looked into it and found out mom was being underpaid by almost $200/month for like 3 years!!! ssa gave her backpay but only after a big fight
That's concerning! Did your mom have to provide any special documentation to prove she was being underpaid?
Just to add some clarity: When you reach FRA, you should receive a letter from SSA about your SSDI converting to retirement benefits. That's the perfect time to inquire about divorced spouse benefits. Be prepared with your marriage certificate and divorce decree. SSA should be able to look up your ex's record with his SSN, but if you don't have it, they can usually find it with his full name and date of birth. The divorced spouse benefit calculation is: 50% of your ex's PIA minus 100% of your own PIA. If the result is positive, you get that amount added to your benefit. If it's zero or negative, your benefit stays the same.
Thank you for explaining the exact calculation! I'll make sure to have my marriage certificate and divorce papers ready. I appreciate everyone's help in understanding this complex topic.
Can I claim Social Security survivor benefits from ex-wife who died after divorce?
I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for survivor benefits from my ex-wife who passed away last year. I'm 61 now, and we were married for 27 years before divorcing in 2020. She died from lung cancer about 18 months after our divorce was finalized, and neither of us remarried. I've heard conflicting things about whether I'm eligible since we were divorced when she died. If I am eligible, should I apply now or wait until my full retirement age (67)? My own SS retirement benefit would be about $2,300/month at FRA, but I'm not sure how much her benefit would be. I'm still working full-time but considering cutting back hours in the next year or two. Any advice on this complicated situation?
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One more important thing - if you decide to take your own retirement benefit early at 62 while waiting to switch to survivor benefits at FRA, be aware that you must explicitly FILE FOR AND RESTRICT YOUR APPLICATION to retirement benefits only. Otherwise, SSA might automatically give you the higher of the two benefits, which could prevent you from using the strategy of switching later. This is one of those technical details that's incredibly important but often not explained clearly. When you do speak with an agent, specifically ask about the "restricted application" process for your situation.
This is so true! My friend didnt know about this restriction thing and ended up missing out on thousands of dollars because she didn't file correctly. The SSA people didn't even tell her about this option until it was too late. Always specifically ASK about all your options!
Hey just wondering did you ever get through to SSA? If you do get ahold of them can you post back what they said about your case? Im in a similar situation except I was married 12 years and I'm wondering how they calculate the amount for an ex spouse.
I haven't been able to get through yet, but I'm going to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. I'll definitely post back once I speak with SSA and let you know what they say about calculating ex-spouse survivor benefits. From what I understand so far, it should be the same as if you were still married when they died, as long as you met the 10-year requirement.
Amara Nnamani
I just wanted to thank everyone for all this helpful information! I feel much better knowing I probably won't owe taxes on my benefits. I'm also going to look into that disability freeze option that was mentioned, and maybe reconsider applying for disability benefits with better medical documentation. I appreciate all the advice!
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Dylan Mitchell
Good plan. One more tip: If you do decide to pursue the disability angle, consider getting a copy of your medical records first. Make sure they clearly document your vision limitation and any functional restrictions. Sometimes doctors don't include enough detail about how conditions affect daily activities, which is what SSA focuses on. Good luck!
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Sofia Morales
my aunt had to pay taxes on her SS and she only made like 30k total so it really depends on ur other income. its so confusing!!!
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Giovanni Mancini
That's correct. At $30k combined income (counting half her SS benefits), your aunt would be over the $25,000 threshold where taxation begins for single filers. Up to 50% of benefits become taxable between $25,000-$34,000, and up to 85% above $34,000. The exact percentage depends on the specific calculations on the IRS worksheet.
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