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Not So Common Questions

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a column about some of the most common questions I receive. This week, I thought it would be interesting to write a column answering some of the more unusual questions I get. Or to clarify, they may be unusual to you. But not to me. In the 50-plus years I've been dealing with Social Security issues, I don't think there is a single question I haven't been asked many times before!

Q: I am an 85-year-old woman in Tucson. I recently took a friend to one of our local Social Security offices where she had an appointment to resolve a Medicare matter. While I was waiting in my car in the office parking lot, I noticed many young people who appeared to be in their 20s and 30s entering the office. What kind of benefits could they be applying for?

A: They most likely were not there to file for any Social Security benefits. They were there to get a replacement Social Security card. (People are losing their cards all the time.) A very high percentage of the workload in any Social Security office is just that -- helping young people replace a lost Social Security card.

Q: I am getting my Social Security benefits, which I started at age 70. My 62-year-old wife is about to sign up for Social Security. She was a stay-at-home mom for much of our marriage, so her own Social Security benefit is very small. She will get much more on my record. Does that mean she simply forgoes her own benefit and just files for spousal benefits on my account?

A: No. She will be paid her own benefit first. Then that benefit will be supplemented with whatever extra spousal benefits she is due on your record. And as I've pointed out many times in this column, her spousal benefit will be based on your full retirement age benefit, not your augmented age 70 benefit. Although if you die first, her widow's benefit will be based on your higher age 70 benefit.

Q: My father died several years ago. After he passed, the Social Security office contacted my mother and helped her file for widow's benefits. Recently, my wife's father died. But nobody ever contacted her mother, and she eventually got in touch with Social Security herself to file a widow's claim. Can you explain why their cases were handled differently?

A: Yes, I can. Although there are all kinds of variables that could come into play, here is a very broad outline of how widows' claims are usually handled.

If a woman was getting only spousal benefits on her husband's record before he died (meaning she didn't have any Social Security of her own), then once the Social Security Administration learns of her husband's death, she will be automatically converted from wife's benefits to widow's benefits. No application is needed.

If a woman was getting some benefits on her own record and some additional spousal benefits on her husband's record (meaning her name is already attached to her husband's Social Security account), then the SSA will likely contact her to help her file for widow's benefits.

But if a woman were getting only her own retirement benefits and no spousal benefits from her husband, then after he dies, the ball is in her court, so to speak. In other words, it would be up to her to contact the SSA to file for widow's benefits.

Q: As we all know, more than a few men have had multiple wives. If such a guy dies, will all those women get widow's benefits on his record?

A: It's possible, but not probable. Why? For a couple of reasons. Some of those ex-wives will likely have remarried. And once they do that, they won't be due any Social Security benefits on the prior husband's account. Also, if any of the ex-wives worked, they might be due higher benefits on their own record.

Q: My partner and I have been living together for almost 30 years. But we've never gotten married. We think of ourselves as a common-law couple. We are both getting close to our 60s and are now starting to think about Social Security. I always made more money than she did. If I die, will she get any widow's benefits on my record?

A: As a general rule, Social Security follows state law concerning the legality of a marriage. So, if the state you live in recognizes common law relationships and considers you married, then the Social Security Administration will also consider you married and pay your partner widow's benefits after you die. But if your state doesn't recognize common law marriage, you could be in trouble. Of course, you could make things much simpler for Social Security purposes if you just got legally married.

Q: We have a conservatorship for our two grandchildren. Our son and his wife are just unable to take care of these kids. When we recently signed up for our Social Security benefits, they told us the grandkids can't get dependent benefits on our records. Why not?

A: Social Security law says children can only get benefits on a grandparent's record if both natural parents are deceased or disabled. Apparently, that's not the case in your situation. Your only other option would be to adopt these kids. If you did that, they would be eligible for benefits on your Social Security records.

Q: I'd like to learn more about the rate of interest earned by the Social Security trust funds. Where can I find that information?

A: You can find out everything you might want to know about the financing of Social Security and the operation of the trust funds from the Social Security Administration actuaries. It's all online. Do a Google search for "Social Security Office of the Chief Actuary" and once at their site, just start noodling around.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all the answers. One is called "Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security." The other is "Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts." You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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