Ask Rusty

Dear Rusty: My last Social Security payment decreased by about $400, so I went to my online SS account and found a November 2025 letter explaining that my 2024 tax return showed a greatly enlarged AGI (Adjusted Gross Income). Thus, SSA decided to withdraw monies, as of Jan 2026, from my bank account because I’d owed far more monies to them!  The…

Dear Rusty: I just found out, as someone who was collecting widow’s benefits on my second husband (a very small amount) for some time, that I was, all along, entitled to divorce benefits from my first husband which are much more. I thought I had to wait until my first husband passed before I could collect…

Dear Rusty: My girlfriend is 65 and she just enrolled in Medicare. She is still working full time as a nurse, but they are still deducting Medicare taxes from her paycheck. I thought as soon as you started Medicare, that they would no longer take any Medicare taxes from her paychecks. Is that not correct? Signed: Concerned Friend …

Dear Rusty: I have been working somewhat consistently since commencing my Social Security benefit income. I’ve been collecting since my full benefit age of 66, approximately. I’m now 81, and customarily, in about October of each calendar year, Social Security notifies me of additional benefits from my additional work. Not this year.   I earned some $18,000-$19,000 in…

Dear Rusty: Can you help me understand? I have paid into Social Security since I started working in 1978. I did have a lot of tax deductions, but I don’t understand why I only receive $350 a month from Social Security. Signed: Befuddled Senior Dear Befuddled Senior: Your Social Security benefit is based upon your average monthly earnings for…

Dear Rusty: I am a 63-year-old single lady, and I have questions regarding Social Security “early retirement,” though I will still be working full time.  I know there is a maximum allowable income limit and, if I exceed that, I will need to return probably 2/3 of my received Social Security benefit. I’m thinking about taking those…

By Russel Gloor Association of Mature American Citizens Picture this: You’ve worked all your life in your chosen profession and are getting tired of the rat race. You’re 62 years old and comforted to know that you are now eligible to collect Social Security. You will get a retirement pension from your career, and you have some…

Dear Rusty: A friend told me about what he believes is a strange thing in the Social Security system. His wife reached her full retirement age (FRA) of 66 several years ago. She delayed filing for Social Security past her FRA and claimed on her 68th birthday in June of that year, exactly 2 years after…

By Russell Gloor Association of Mature American Citizens Obviously, minor children normally aren’t working and contributing to the Social Security program toward their future retirement, but that doesn’t mean Social Security isn’t there to protect them.  In real life, there are two main situations where minor children can collect Social Security benefits based upon a parent’s…

Dear Rusty: Should I take my Social Security now at age 62, or wait till I am 65? I’ve been collecting SS disability due to health issues and was curious if I should wait or claim my regular Social Security retirement benefits now. Signed: Disabled but Wondering Dear Disabled but Wondering: If you are now collecting Social Security…