[airstreamingypsy]

Originally Posted by bsloan1960

Thank you. So your answers prompt this next question. If you can only select ONE SS check, what is the Duel Enrollment that is being discussed?

Pistols at dawn?

[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by Romad

(WATCH) Shorting Seniors | Sharyl Attkisson

A widow signing up for survivor's benefits and her own retirement benefits at the same time is called “dual enrollment." And too often, McAdams says, it’s not a good thing.

McAdams: It could be men, but it's typically widows — women — who applied for survivor benefits, and their claims were set up incorrectly. And, as a result, they've lost money for years, and they continue to lose hundreds of dollars every month.

I wonder if anyone here has seen this!

When the widow applies for benefits she should be given the options on which account to apply, and when, and the amounts she can be paid. Sometimes she is better off taking the reduced widows benefit at age 60, the switching to her own at full retirement age, sometimes she is better off taking her own reduced retirement at age 62, then switching to full widow’s benefit at age 65. If she remarries after age 60, the widow’s benefit can continue. If she outlives husband number 2 then she can switch to a widow’s benefit on his account if it is higher. Same rules for widowers. The answers are all in the numbers. It can get complicated, but it is comprehensible, provided she/he gets the right information from a competent Social Security claims representative. The accuracy rate on Retirement & Survivor’s Insuance (RSI) claims is extremely high. 35 years with the Administration, the last 20 of them in Office of Quality Assurance. When correcting an error the Philadelphia Program Center made on my wife’s claim, we found the folks at the Leesburg office entirely competent.

[jammaiora]

Originally Posted by Romad

(WATCH) Shorting Seniors | Sharyl Attkisson

A widow signing up for survivor's benefits and her own retirement benefits at the same time is called “dual enrollment." And too often, McAdams says, it’s not a good thing.

McAdams: It could be men, but it's typically widows — women — who applied for survivor benefits, and their claims were set up incorrectly. And, as a result, they've lost money for years, and they continue to lose hundreds of dollars every month.

I wonder if anyone here has seen this!

Next time do some fact checking on your source. Don't be fooled by her program headline that she does independent journalism. She works for a "news" outlet/company, Sinclair, that has trouble reporting FACTS. She is a conspiracy advocate - vaccines and autism, among others. She has connections to QAnon. She has filed frivolous lawsuits and continues to lose. I wouldn't believe a word she says! In addition, she is another GRIFTER. Look at the right side of the site you sent, and you will see she is asking for money. Pathetic!

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by jammaiora

Next time do some fact checking on your source. Don't be fooled by her program headline that she does independent journalism. She works for a "news" outlet/company, Sinclair, that has trouble reporting FACTS. She is a conspiracy advocate - vaccines and autism, among others. She has connections to QAnon. She has filed frivolous lawsuits and continues to lose. I wouldn't believe a word she says! In addition, she is another GRIFTER. Look at the right side of the site you sent, and you will see she is asking for money. Pathetic!

What does any of that have to do with the subject of this thread?

Fact checking? Ok, in your fact checking what did you find about the story that was false?

[PugMom]

i think he/she posted in the wrong thread

[OhioBuckeye]

We all know S.S. Going broke. Surprised no one mentioned that. We should be concerned about our grandchildren & possibly our children. But then again maybe we don’t care!

[ryoungs]

This is ever so slightly off the subject, but here is my report anyway: My wife and I, both of us life-long teachers, get a pension under the Illinois Teachers Retirement System. It is not too shabby, the amount we get, and we have no complaints about it.

Besides teaching, I normally also worked a variety of other jobs. I earned enough by "moonlighting" that by the time I retired I had enough quarters under the SS system that I could draw the maximum Social Security. My wife gets no SS, but we both became eligible for Medicare. Of course, I can't double dip, so my Social Security is greatly reduced (I get $450 each month from SS), but I'm not complaining because that is the way the laws governing SS are set up. But here is another thing---> When we bought a house in The Villages, we took $200 K for it from an IRA account. That, of course, triggered taxes, which we expected and paid. What we didn't expect was that Social Security decided the $200 K we took from savings was income. Suddenly, our family income was quite high, at least for that year, and it caused my tiny SS check to be cut even lower. But, more importantly, our high income that year changed our family Medicare premiums. Now, our Medicare premiums are MUCH higher than before. My wife's Medicare premium, for example, went from $240 a month to $640 per month. Now, we are not complaining about any of this, but I thought it might be something worth throwing into the discussion.

[jammaiora]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

What does any of that have to do with the subject of this thread?

Fact checking? Ok, in your fact checking what did you find about the story that was false?

The source of the original thread, is not credible. Therefore, I and anyone shouldn't believe what she is supposedly "reporting". You can see from responses, by followers of the tread, that the information is flawed. She has a reputation for being anti-government. Do some research on her before you trust what she is "selling"! Just another GRIFTER, LIKE THE ONE THAT GOT BOOTED!

[Speedie]

Originally Posted by OhioBuckeye

We all know S.S. Going broke. Surprised no one mentioned that. We should be concerned about our grandchildren & possibly our children. But then again maybe we don’t care!

Why not put a trillion of the loan forgiveness or trillion of free stuff for illegals into the ss fund? Problem solved for next 100 years

AND that might pay off voters over 50 to jump on the train

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by jammaiora

The source of the original thread, is not credible. Therefore, I and anyone shouldn't believe what she is supposedly "reporting". You can see from responses, by followers of the tread, that the information is flawed. She has a reputation for being anti-government. Do some research on her before you trust what she is "selling"! Just another GRIFTER, LIKE THE ONE THAT GOT BOOTED!

So you don't have any facts to dispute what the article says.

(The article may be exaggerating the number of times survivors are dual enrolled and lose benefits but it is likely that it does happen. I am thankful for the information - it is something to be aware of if I am ever in the unfortunate situation)

[toeser]

Originally Posted by ryoungs

This is ever so slightly off the subject, but here is my report anyway: My wife and I, both of us life-long teachers, get a pension under the Illinois Teachers Retirement System. It is not too shabby, the amount we get, and we have no complaints about it.

Besides teaching, I normally also worked a variety of other jobs. I earned enough by "moonlighting" that by the time I retired I had enough quarters under the SS system that I could draw the maximum Social Security. My wife gets no SS, but we both became eligible for Medicare. Of course, I can't double dip, so my Social Security is greatly reduced (I get $450 each month from SS), but I'm not complaining because that is the way the laws governing SS are set up. But here is another thing---> When we bought a house in The Villages, we took $200 K for it from an IRA account. That, of course, triggered taxes, which we expected and paid. What we didn't expect was that Social Security decided the $200 K we took from savings was income. Suddenly, our family income was quite high, at least for that year, and it caused my tiny SS check to be cut even lower. But, more importantly, our high income that year changed our family Medicare premiums. Now, our Medicare premiums are MUCH higher than before. My wife's Medicare premium, for example, went from $240 a month to $640 per month. Now, we are not complaining about any of this, but I thought it might be something worth throwing into the discussion.

Because I think income taxes will be going up in the future, I have been making accelerated withdrawals from my and my wife's IRA's. Medicare really smacks you when they think you make a lot of money. Combined with supplemental insurance, our total healthcare insurance bill is absolutely huge.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by ryoungs

This is ever so slightly off the subject, but here is my report anyway: My wife and I, both of us life-long teachers, get a pension under the Illinois Teachers Retirement System. It is not too shabby, the amount we get, and we have no complaints about it.

Besides teaching, I normally also worked a variety of other jobs. I earned enough by "moonlighting" that by the time I retired I had enough quarters under the SS system that I could draw the maximum Social Security. My wife gets no SS, but we both became eligible for Medicare. Of course, I can't double dip, so my Social Security is greatly reduced (I get $450 each month from SS), but I'm not complaining because that is the way the laws governing SS are set up. But here is another thing---> When we bought a house in The Villages, we took $200 K for it from an IRA account. That, of course, triggered taxes, which we expected and paid. What we didn't expect was that Social Security decided the $200 K we took from savings was income. Suddenly, our family income was quite high, at least for that year, and it caused my tiny SS check to be cut even lower. But, more importantly, our high income that year changed our family Medicare premiums. Now, our Medicare premiums are MUCH higher than before. My wife's Medicare premium, for example, went from $240 a month to $640 per month. Now, we are not complaining about any of this, but I thought it might be something worth throwing into the discussion.

Nothing is new. Throughout history it has always been the same. Everyone wants but no one wants to pay. I was self employed. First of all self employed means when you complain about the boss you discover you are talking to yourself. People do not realize when you work for others typically over 40% of you income is UNTAXED benefits. Social security an employee pays roughly 7% tax your employer matches what they take from you. Self employed and you pay 13%.

Medicare, we never qualified for the $240, we have always paid the top rate. We were surprised to find it does not pay for us to itemize our taxes so we get the standard deduction. Thus, interest on our mortgage is not a tax deduction.

Covid payments. imagine they sent checks to retired people who have not worked in years because they could not get to WORK. If, I could have been paid I would have of course take the money. I have and continue to pay too much tax to be sent a check-I get to pay for it.

As said everyone wants, no one wants to pay-that includes me.

[Dond1959]

Originally Posted by ryoungs

This is ever so slightly off the subject, but here is my report anyway: My wife and I, both of us life-long teachers, get a pension under the Illinois Teachers Retirement System. It is not too shabby, the amount we get, and we have no complaints about it.

Besides teaching, I normally also worked a variety of other jobs. I earned enough by "moonlighting" that by the time I retired I had enough quarters under the SS system that I could draw the maximum Social Security. My wife gets no SS, but we both became eligible for Medicare. Of course, I can't double dip, so my Social Security is greatly reduced (I get $450 each month from SS), but I'm not complaining because that is the way the laws governing SS are set up. But here is another thing---> When we bought a house in The Villages, we took $200 K for it from an IRA account. That, of course, triggered taxes, which we expected and paid. What we didn't expect was that Social Security decided the $200 K we took from savings was income. Suddenly, our family income was quite high, at least for that year, and it caused my tiny SS check to be cut even lower. But, more importantly, our high income that year changed our family Medicare premiums. Now, our Medicare premiums are MUCH higher than before. My wife's Medicare premium, for example, went from $240 a month to $640 per month. Now, we are not complaining about any of this, but I thought it might be something worth throwing into the discussion.

You Medicare premium will go back down once your income goes back down. It is an issue for Medicare Part B so you need to watch your income at 63 and beyond as they look back 2 years. I believe the maximum income this year for the lowest Medicare premium is around $170k.

On survivor benefits or spousal benefits SS it is weird how they calculate the amount. They will always take your benefit based on your age and then add the amount to your benefit to get up to the survivor or spousal benefit. So you are always taking your benefit when claiming. If your individual benefit is higher then you always take your own benefit. To get the maximum survivor benefit the higher earner should always wait until 70 to claim their benefit.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by OhioBuckeye

We all know S.S. Going broke. Surprised no one mentioned that. We should be concerned about our grandchildren & possibly our children. But then again maybe we don’t care!

SS not going broke at some point they will fix it (I hope).

However if they do not there is still enough money going into the system to pay out about 71% of current payouts.

[joshgun]

Originally Posted by Garywt

I currently collect SS disability. When I am old enough to collect the normal SS I was told I get to pick the disability or the SS which ever is larger but not both.

Actually, you will get two checks. One your ssdi check and a SS check for the difference between your ssdi benefit and your retirement benefit. That surprised me but how my wife was paid when she got to retirement age.