topic Re: Social Security Help, Please? in Community Chat

Social Security Help, Please?

vermint — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 17:30:34 GMT

My DH is 66 and entitled to his full benefit, even though he plans to continue working for at least another year or so. Because he is still working, his case is being handled in Chicago (We live in SC, but none of the local offices will deal with those who are still working--seriously, that's what they said!). He ended up applying on-line.

He got a letter saying he needed to call his "person" in Chicago before February 25, to start getting his checks on time. Apparently they need more info. He called at least 3 times, left voice messages, and still this person hasn't returned his call. It's now March 5.

He had this same problem with this same person with getting Medicare going a year ago.

Does anybody know what else to do?

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

candyagain — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 17:38:01 GMT

Place a call to the Federal Social Security number/ InfoLine. I have had excellent service from anyone in Social Security that I've dealt with. You've been in touch with an office that may be too busy or understaffed to return calls.

I started out with the federal line and made an appointment with the local. But I could have done it ALL online or on the phone. Don't know of anyone collecting that had to make contact with a local office.

Good luck. Don't give up. It's his money!! He worked for it.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

seaBreeze — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 17:46:01 GMT

(from the Internet):

https://secure.ssa.gov/emailus/

You need to get his situation "in writing" since he has a deadline to meet. Any government agency is so overwhelmed with calls that your DH is probably number 300 in the return call queue. Best of luck.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

catter70 — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 17:52:16 GMT

If he's still going to continue working, he should hold off collecting if he can as he will receive more money when he does collect after he retires. Also, if he makes too much money while collecting, they penalize you. You would have to check to see what the cap is without being penalized. After age 70, you can earn as much as you want without being penalized.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

vermint — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 17:53:35 GMT

@seaBreeze Thank you! I've Googled and checked the ssa site til I'm cross-eyed, but I missed that!

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

vermint — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 17:56:32 GMT

@catter70 He can earn as much as he wants at 66, which is his current age. We plan to bank his SS checks, maybe invest if/when we get enough put by. Owning our own business has not allowed us, financially, to prepare as well as we would have liked to for retirement.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

viva923 — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 18:09:13 GMT

my husband is 71 and still working full time.

the little bit i remember from when he turned 65 is he got a letter in the mail saying SS would begin such n such date.

he never had any problem with SS.

Me, I am under 2 SS offices one from where I was born and raised (1st job and such) one is Chicago and one is Philly. That is probably why you are out of the Chicago office,, was your husband born and raised in the midwest??? I was born in the upper midwest and raised there. Now out of Philly because I live on east coast.

hope all gets straightened around.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

Somertime — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 18:17:40 GMT

I would call the government hotline and explain the problem with the SC office. There is an advantage for filing at 66 because you can bank your Social Security but by working you are still contributing to your Social Security which will increase the amount you receive each month. Every October, they review your account and in December, you will receive a letter telling you what your new Social Security check will be. So two added bonuses! I received my Soc. Sec. at 66 and continued to work until I was 69. My Federal Income tax did not increase and yours might not as well even though you might have two incomes.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

vermint — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 18:21:20 GMT

@viva923 No, he is a South Carolina native and has never lived anywhere else. He's had to apply online for Medicare and SS...both times his file went to the Chicago office to the same person--who will NOT return calls. Someone said they're probably overloaded, and that's likely true--but the last time he called was 2 weeks ago, and that was the 3rd time he'd called!

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

Hooty — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 18:26:16 GMT

@vermint , This is the craziest thing I have ever heard, being covered by two different Social Security agencies, and another won't handle because he is still working!

Do you have a local SS office in your city? If you can't visit personally, call the main office in Washington, DC and get to the bottom of this, this is ridiculous, and I know too many people who are drawing SS and are still working and have no problems!

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

CelticCrafter — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 18:26:17 GMT

When my husband applied for his Social Security he did it on line.

The person it was assigned to had a question about 1 of his employers and asked for him to call her back.

I don't know why they even bother to have a message about leaving a voice mail. They don't call you back. He just kept calling and happened to get lucky one day when she actually answered her phone.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

hckynut — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 19:05:27 GMT

@catter70 wrote:
If he's still going to continue working, he should hold off collecting if he can as he will receive more money when he does collect after he retires. Also, if he makes too much money while collecting, they penalize you. You would have to check to see what the cap is without being penalized. After age 70, you can earn as much as you want without being penalized.

@catter70

I took my SS, in 1991, at age 62. Why? I did the math and at that time it would take 12 years to make up for the money I received prior to age 65. I am a "1 in the hand is better than 2 in the push". I had no guarantee that I would live to age 65.

As fate would have it, I had my 1st heart attack, with Aspiration Pneumonia, in 2003 when I was 64. If not for my having an athletes large lung capacity? Would not have made it to 65. There are at least 2 schools of thought, and I chose the one that was more of a sure thing for me to get some of my money back.

hckynut

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

vermint — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 19:36:49 GMT

@Hooty

@Hooty wrote:
@vermint , This is the craziest thing I have ever heard, being covered by two different Social Security agencies, and another won't handle because he is still working!

Do you have a local SS office in your city? If you can't visit personally, call the main office in Washington, DC and get to the bottom of this, this is ridiculous, and I know too many people who are drawing SS and are still working and have no problems!

I agree! We live in one state & work in another, SS offices for both states are not far away from us, but that's what they told him...he's still working so must do everything online. For the Medicare issue a year ago, the hold up was just a simple answer to a simple question (don't remember exactly what it was)...basically a big nothing. I suspect this is the same thing.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

mac116 — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 19:37:19 GMT

My husband was advised to take his SS at age 66, even though still working full time. Our financial planner did the math for him, and figured my DH would be WAY ahead to take the SS and invest it rather than wait until 70. There is no limit as to how much he can earn while still working.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

vermint — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 19:37:46 GMT

Thanks so much to everyone who replied! We have some good avenues to follow now!

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

Carmie — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:23:34 GMT

My DH was 66 last month. He is still working. I applied for SS for him online and he never had a problem.

He has been paying for Medicare B himself for a whole year, beginning when he was 65, with the payment taken automactly out of his checking account. I thought this might create a problem, but no, everything went smoothly. He got one SS check so far and everything was correct. His Medicare B was taken from his SS and the bank payment stopped.

I would sign into the SS site and check your DH status. There is a note and status section and you might be able to figure how what the problem is.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

Carmie — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 19:46:18 GMT

@catter70 wrote:
If he's still going to continue working, he should hold off collecting if he can as he will receive more money when he does collect after he retires. Also, if he makes too much money while collecting, they penalize you. You would have to check to see what the cap is without being penalized. After age 70, you can earn as much as you want without being penalized.

Actually, you van earn as much as you want to when you get to full retirement age. For most people now, it is age 66.

Age 70 is when you must start receiving SS benefits. You cannot delay it any longer.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

Katcat1 — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 19:51:20 GMT

I never heard of anything like that before. You normally either call or go online to apply. I would call Social Securtity Admin. and talk to someone with some sense.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

millieshops — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:08:10 GMT

@vermintI just read through many of the responses you have and here's my reaction --

Some of the answers are giving you good info but I think (think NOT know) some are giving you info that can end up costing you money. Please don't make a final decision without knowing what is best the combination of circumstances you and DH have.

Re: Social Security Help, Please?

sissel — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:35:51 GMT

I applied on line at 62yrs a few yrs then my husband retired and I am entitled to half of his soc sec since he paid more into.it. Tried the phone but got no where fast so had to go to soc sec admin. Big difference talking to a person that knows what they are doing. Gov. runs soc.sec so same rules should apply to all states. Think your DH has to go to the soc.sec in the state where his residence is. Not sure but really go talk a person & they will advise you what you both need to do.