Help Needed - Social Security Benefits Question

None/Vanity | April 8, 2012 | Me

[TheBattman]

You could have 5 ex-wives and all get the full benefit without effecting any of the others. Makes no sense actuarially, but that is the rule.

And we wonder why Social Security is unable to pay for itself...

And this while at the same time denying a person to receive at least some Social Security retirement benefit based on what they DID pay (and have a lot more than the required 40 "units" required to be considered eligible).

[exit82]

If your mom worked 40 quarters—ten years—in jobs before the Texas teaching position—she qualifies for SS. The key is the ten years. If she did that, she’s good to go at age 62 or later(reduced benefits before 65).

She also qualifies for widow’s benefits if she is age 60 or more under either husbands’s benefits, whichever is larger.

She needs to talk to SS directly, and if you don’t get anywhere, contact your Congressman’s office.

[TheBattman]

My mom IS over 62

I’m not sure, but I do believe she has over 10 years of paying into SS outside of Texas teaching positions (not all in the same place). I’m also not sure how much was prior to her teaching in Texas.

She does supposedly qualify for widow’s benefits - but they are offset by her retirement income from Texas (she will be getting like $64 per month from SS as a a survivor’s benefit because of the offset).

[exit82]

If she has the 40 quarters, forget the widow’s benefits(since they are offset) and have her apply for her regular benefit. That is based on earnings and should not be offset.

[cherry]

what a mess.....good luck.....

[CGASMIA68]

only advise to take from this post is..... Go to the SS office in person

[texgal]

I work at a U?T medical school. The way it was explained to us was that because of the Teacher Retirement System which from your paycheck 6% is deducted and after you are 100% vested - 10 years in my situation - you will not be able to draw social security IF you did not contribute into the social security system. Your TRS benefits will reduce the amount of SS you may be eligible to receive from your spouse.

UT deducts BOTH TRS and Social security from our checks to make us eligible to receive benefits from both. If your mom has paid into both, she will be eligible for both TRS and social security from her own account.

It would be best to contact the Social Security Administration to find out what her benefits will be.

[Intolerant in NJ]

BUT- my mother paid into Social Security quite a few years when she taught and worked outside of Texas. She apparently loses all of that......still doesn't sound right - if she paid into SS and met the minimum contribution requirements she should get something back, though maybe not as much as if she had been under SS her entire working life - I'd still go for another opinion.....

[Robert DeLong]

Yes of course you are correct. What I meant was that the amount I am scheduled to get will probably not even buy a stick of chewing gum. Thus it will be as useless as tits on a boar hog. In essence I will be receiving nothing.