Everyone needs 40 quarters of coverage to be eligible for retirement benefits and premium free hospital insurance of Medicare. It doesn’t matter when these quarters are earned. If you earn your 40 quarters in your 20’s and 30’s and never earned another quarter you will still be eligible for retirement and premium free hospital insurance. […]
Options for Divorced Retirees
Benefits for a divorced spouse or surviving divorced spouse may be payable if certain conditions exist: The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years or more; You must not be currently married; You must be age 62 or older; Your ex-spouse must be at least age 62 or older, disabled or deceased; The marriage […]
Options for Widows and Widowers
Widows and Widowers have options not offered to others. You can file for so-called survivor benefits any time after age 60 (age 50 if disabled). These monthly benefits will be based on the deceased individual’s full retirement age (FRA) benefit and your age when you begin to receive benefits. You can choose between survivor benefits […]
Options for Couples
Benefit options for couples include the normal age based choices as well as choices that will maximize benefits for both individuals. Delaying either of your individual payments will allow payments to be made while still building monthly benefits. Each member of the couple is free to file for benefits as they desire, but if you […]
Options for Single Individuals
Options for single individuals who are not entitled to benefits from someone else’s work record are limited. Basically you are limited to age-related choices. You can file for benefits any time after age 62 and your monthly benefit amount will be based on your full retirement age (FRA) benefit and your age when you begin […]