Retirees, Social security, Medicare

[Bruce]

Sadly it looks like we are screwed on that account. Only 3 offices in the state, one in the biggest city, one in the state capital and one in the biggest city in the southernish part of the state (actually a lot closer to the middle of the state than the middle of the southern half). No "small town friendly" available.

 

[greybeard]

Sadly it looks like we are screwed on that account. Only 3 offices in the state, one in the biggest city, one in the state capital and one in the biggest city in the southernish part of the state (actually a lot closer to the middle of the state than the middle of the southern half). No "small town friendly" available.

Everything related to applying for SS and medicare benefits can be done via telephone or on line. The same person that signs you up for SS can usually sign you up for Medicare.
1-800-772-1213
https://secure.ssa.gov/iClaim/rib
Things you will need in front of you in either case:
https://www.ssa.gov/hlp/isba/10/isba-checklist.pdf


Make sure, you are in a quiet place in your home, that you won't be disturbed or interrupted, that your phone is fully charged and if possible, temporarily block any incoming calls or computer updates.

Make SURE, that you know the place and means any former marriage ended, if the former spouse is deceased, his/her date of death..helps to have the death certificate in front of you.

Took me about 20 minutes by phone and there were a few glitches, as I did not have a former wife's death certificate, but since I knew where and when she died, they (SS) were able to look it up.

Make sure as well, that you have your bank's name, your account # and bank's routing number in front of you.

IF, your former spouse is deceased, and had ever paid into SS/Medicare, you will be asked if you want to draw on their benefits..you can't draw both yours and theirs simultaneously. One or the other. The SS rep will be able to tell you how much the former spouse benefits to you will be. You 'can' draw their's first, then file to draw your own later. (I don't remember exactly how that worked, but I declined 'hers'.)

 

[Mini Horses]

Just a note....to claim a spouse's earnings benefits, you must have been married at least 10 months. To collect for a child's share, no elapsed time required...or even a marriage.

The little $255 death "benefit" is paid ONLY to a current spouse OR a dependent child. So, if a widow/widower parent dies and children are grown, nothing paid for funeral assist.

Been there for both...….

 

[Bruce]

IF, your former spouse is deceased, and had ever paid into SS/Medicare, you will be asked if you want to draw on their benefits..you can't draw both yours and theirs simultaneously.

So grubby as it sounds, my friend who's ex dropped dead 3 months ago with no medical warning signs could pull from his SS when he would have turned 62 in 6 years and wait to collect hers when she is 70 in 11.

 

[greybeard]

So grubby as it sounds, my friend who's ex dropped dead 3 months ago with no medical warning signs could pull from his SS when he would have turned 62 in 6 years and wait to collect hers when she is 70 in 11.

I may be wrong on this Bruce, but there's something in the back of my mind that makes me remember it thusly: That the surviving spouse is entitled to only 1/2 of the deceased's monthly benefits.

 

[Bruce]

Funny thing is that she and I had been talking Thursday about when it is best to start pulling SS. She didn't mention he had died until just before I left. I hadn't thought about the possibility she could pull from his until your post. It gives her a somewhat unique ability to wait and "not wait" at the same time. Even if she doesn't need the money (and if you can even consider waiting past your earliest date, you don't NEED the money), she could collect it and gift it to their 2 boys, now 21 and 23.

 

[greybeard]

It does go smoother, if the deceased had already signed up for SS benefits before assuming room temperature..

Receiving SS benefits of deceased spouse:
https://www.ssa.gov/planners/survivors/ifyou.html

 

[Bruce]

And of course there is this:
"There are limits on how much survivors may earn while they receive benefits."
She would have to retire before collecting on his SS. Her earned income is far too high to not have the SS run to $0.

 

[Mike CHS]

What really skews the calculations is how the SS web sight reads about how they will deduct x $ for X $ that you made. I worked till the end of June the year that I started to draw SS but when I applied that year they asked about what your estimated wages will be for the remaining months of the year. My income was high enough that I expected some major deduction but that didn't happen. What did happen is my actual earnings didn't match what SS estimated so I had to go speak to an agent at the SS office. It got adjusted down and no changes were made and my monthly draw was the same as originally scheduled.

 

[Senile_Texas_Aggie]

Miss @farmerjan,

What did you end up doing regarding taking Social Security and Medicare?

Senile Texas Aggie