Community Chat

[monicakm]

I know part of it was me with my health issues but part of it was different answers from different Social Security agents. Even as late as this past week we were getting different answers when we went to the Social Security Office. Had a phone appointment yesterday and we are both signed up. I didn't work enough to draw a check but for some reason I'm able to draw off of my husband. Both of our checks will start next month and we both will get back pay. I'm glad that is finally behind us. One down and one to go. Now to get 2021 taxes filed.  Being self-employed, it is a lot more complicated and I hate anything to do with numbers.  So even though we don't do our own taxes I still have a huge amount of paperwork to sort and tally before I can take it to our tax man.  Life hard.

[Carmie]

I hope you didn't mean to say your 2021 taxes!

I am happy that your SS woes are over with and that you had difficulty.

You can collect 1/2 of your spouses SS amount if you don't have enough time worked to collect on your own benefits.

Hopefully, you filled out 

[teganslaw]

It must be a relief to have the SS situation behind you. Your 2021 taxes haven't been filed yet? That must be an error, maybe you meant 2023? 

I don't know why some Social Security makes things difficult for some people. I did everything online and it went very smoothly. It could be that SS offices aren't as competent in some areas of the country.

[Icegoddess]

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@monicakm wrote:

I know part of it was me with my health issues but part of it was different answers from different Social Security agents. Even as late as this past week we were getting different answers when we went to the Social Security Office. Had a phone appointment yesterday and we are both signed up. I didn't work enough to draw a check but for some reason I'm able to draw off of my husband. Both of our checks will start next month and we both will get back pay. I'm glad that is finally behind us. One down and one to go. Now to get 2021 taxes filed.  Being self-employed, it is a lot more complicated and I hate anything to do with numbers.  So even though we don't do our own taxes I still have a huge amount of paperwork to sort and tally before I can take it to our tax man.  Life hard.

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@monicakm it was probably set up that way so that housewives wouldn't be left penniless if their husband left them for a newer model.  

[Sage04]

@monicakm, that's the way it works. In fact, it works both ways for male or female. Some how I think you meant to 2024 taxes.

[Tinkrbl44]

@monicakm 

How did you neglect to pay your 2021 taxes?  I hope you paid your 2022 and 2023 taxes!  Yikes!  

[Love my grandkids]

@monicakm When I signed up many many years ago, I had the option of a paper check (no thanks) or direct  deposit which I love. My understanding is that, with a few exceptions, paper checks are no longer issued.

I recall the horror stories of people having their checks stolen from their mailboxes.

I think there is also the option of receiving benefits on a debit type card for those who don't have a bank account.

[sunshine45]

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@Love my grandkids wrote:

@monicakm When I signed up many many years ago, I had the option of a paper check (no thanks) or direct  deposit which I love. My understanding is that, with a few exceptions, paper checks are no longer issued.

I recall the horror stories of people having their checks stolen from their mailboxes.

I think there is also the optoin of receiving benefits on a debit type card for those who don't have a bank account.

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@Love my grandkids 

because of some major screw ups on the SSA side, my mom has been getting paper checks now for about four years or so. they keep telling her to switch to direct deposit, which she already HAD, until they messed up her account. they owed her thousands of dollars of back pay and put that into her checking account. a month later they started sending her paper checks. cannot tell you how many times and how many people we called to straighten out everything, but now her paper check is fine, and we dont want to rock the boat anymore. LOL

[Love my grandkids]

@sunshine45 OMG what a nightmare for your poor mother! Glad it's all ok for her now.

[Puppy Lips]

So how do people decide when to take SS? If you wait to take it, you get more as each year passes, right? What factors go into deciding when to take it? Any advice for me?