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The more hours you work, the more you build on your own SS benefit.....but if half of his is still more than your whole, then you get half of his...then in this scenario, all you've done was work more hours and produced more income. If the extra hours brings your SS benefit higher than his half, then you would collect your higher benefit amount, which would put you above your target of $1,875....nothing wrong with that....if you want, you can send me a monthly check for the overage
Thanks for this answer to my question If I could give away the exces$$, I would do that.
I appreciate your help.
It appears that the main idea is to stay at no more than the $1875 level so that they would be qualified for some government assistance?
Is that the thought?
No Not in order to qualify for gov't assistance.
JUST In case. And only IHSS if necessary.
There just isn't any insurance policies out there I've found, without loopholes. So that's what we are left with. I've learned alot doing hospice 3 times this last two years.
Last edited by OutdoorsyGal; 07-09-2015 at 11:41 AM..
I believe so. I think specifically healthcare. Is that right OP?
I had a job which provided healthcare for some years
The job I have now provides my healthcare right now, he buys his own policy. We hardly go to the doctor anyhow
But it is a JUST IN CASE we need IHSS. IHSS is someone who comes into the house to cook, clean, shop take you to doctors appointments etc..bare minimum. You don't necessarily get all of this of course
Again, it is a just in case...but not part of my question
Last edited by OutdoorsyGal; 07-09-2015 at 11:01 AM..
IHSS may not even be available by the time you retire and and are ill enough to require it. You realize, I hope, that one must be actually physically disabled to receive it. Are you planning on being disabled and low income? Why not take the extra hours, make some money and save it, and try and stay healthy in your old age? You have over 20 years ahead of you before you will be eligible for SS. Start saving NOW for a decent retirement instead of aiming to live in poverty.
This whole idea just sounds so screwy.
That is what I am doing ^^Yes i am very familiar with the IHSS program. Wise words that IHSS certainly may not be around by then.
We cycle pretty hard, riding with the bike shop a few times a week and ourselves once a week
We eat all organic whole foods. One of my earlier threads is asking about a town
known for it's Mountain Biking that we hope to move to after I finish caring for my father in law part time.
He is in hospice at the moment. My FIL used to be a County worker for IHSS, by the way.
We are healthier than most people. We eat very little meat, almost all organic whole food.
This is of course, the best insurance policy. To eat healthy, avoid drugs, and exercise. But you want to
do the best you can to ensure your future, just in case. Nothing is set in stone.
FTR, Just because you don't get it doesn't make it "screwy" to take no chances with your healthcare in your golden years
Also my job can move with us... to the town we are considering relocating to within 6-12 months
Last edited by OutdoorsyGal; 07-09-2015 at 11:43 AM..
I don't think you can file for spousal until you reach FRA. I could be wrong though.
I can file at age 62 for spousal benefits but the amount is supposidly reduced. That's what the SS website states
Of course if my own Social Security is more than 50% of his SS (Spousal benefits), that doesn't work. SS will make me take the higher of the two, SS on my own record. So I may never file at all. That's one option.
Or my husband could just NEVER file for his social security at all and we can live on on just my SS of $1875 per month.
Because after I work just 4-5 more years (or about that length of time) that is what I will have accumulated per month on my own SS record
Last edited by OutdoorsyGal; 07-09-2015 at 11:44 AM..
Getting back to your original question - if you file early at 62, you will receive the earnings from whichever record will pay you the most, yours or your spouses. There will not be a choice, SS will select this automatically.
Do not calculate it as half of your spouses earnings if you are filing at 62. You are penalized a percentage for each month between 62 and your FRA.
If you wait to file until your FRA, you then DO have the choice of filing on your spouses record or on your own record.
Although it sounds like you are not interested, you can even file on the spouses record and suspend your own, allowing it to build to the higher payout amounts of delayed filing, about 8% a year until age 70. You can then switch to your earnings record.
ETA - posted at about same time as you - some of this you already know!
Last edited by lady400; 07-09-2015 at 11:45 AM..
Reason: Simultaneous posting
I guess no one knows the answer to whether a person can flat out refuse to apply for social security their whole life.
Or whether it affects Medicare for that person who refuses Social Security....which I believe it doesn't considering that person followed their rules applying for medicare within the expected time-frame
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If I could give away the exces$$, I would do that. 
