TOTALLY GEEKED!

weltschmerz wrote:

---

Perhaps we should ask Lexxy why she's uncomfortable in the basement.
Is it bad guys who can see in the big windows, or evil spirits?

---

 Or maybe she's seen the scary movies. Creepy basements are common.

lilyofcourse wrote:

---

weltschmerz wrote:

---

Perhaps we should ask Lexxy why she's uncomfortable in the basement.
Is it bad guys who can see in the big windows, or evil spirits?

---

 Or maybe she's seen the scary movies. Creepy basements are common.

---

 Yes it is always the basement.  

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Lexxy should paint her basement pink. I don't think you can actually be afraid in a pink room.

---

 No. 

But you could lose your mind.

Ohfour wrote:

---

I need to be entertained. Help a sister out...

---

 Sure! Just let me get my circus monkey and music box! 

Divine Geek wrote:

---

I started my taxes.

---

 Good, good.  Not even the very last minute.

I'm in a three day training class for retirement.

Divine Geek wrote:

---

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

Divine Geek wrote:

---

I started my taxes.

---

 Good, good.  Not even the very last minute.

---

 I literally have 3 things for my taxes.  It took me longer to remember where I put my W-2 than it will to finish my taxes

---

 I remember those days fondly.

To learn my options. There are a ton of considerations. I will have three different sources of income which will kick in at various times or same time, depending on when I want them to start. Delay one or two, get more in the end. Start early, take a reduction. Then there's the benefits...my health insurance will remain with me and my DH for life, for the kids until they turn 26.

Did you know if you were married 10 or more years to an ex, you can collect his social security if you are over a certain age and are not married? Even if the ex re-married? If his is higher than the amount you would collect on your own, you can opt for his instead. It's no wonder SSA is in trouble.

Today we went over FERS Social Security, and health & life benefits. Tomorrow will be Thrift Savings Plan, estate planning and taxes. Last day will be more taxes & estate planning, and transitioning. I have a binder 1 1/2 inches thick of information, plus I'm taking pictures of some of the slides which have checklists.

FNW wrote:

---

To learn my options. There are a ton of considerations. I will have three different sources of income which will kick in at various times or same time, depending on when I want them to start. Delay one or two, get more in the end. Start early, take a reduction. Then there's the benefits...my health insurance will remain with me and my DH for life, for the kids until they turn 26.

Did you know if you were married 10 or more years to an ex, you can collect his social security if you are over a certain age and are not married? Even if the ex re-married? If his is higher than the amount you would collect on your own, you can opt for his instead. It's no wonder SSA is in trouble.

Today we went over FERS Social Security, and health & life benefits. Tomorrow will be Thrift Savings Plan, estate planning and taxes. Last day will be more taxes & estate planning, and transitioning. I have a binder 1 1/2 inches thick of information, plus I'm taking pictures of some of the slides which have checklists.

---

 Yep. This came up with my disability. 

 

FNW wrote:

---

To learn my options. There are a ton of considerations. I will have three different sources of income which will kick in at various times or same time, depending on when I want them to start. Delay one or two, get more in the end. Start early, take a reduction. Then there's the benefits...my health insurance will remain with me and my DH for life, for the kids until they turn 26.

Did you know if you were married 10 or more years to an ex, you can collect his social security if you are over a certain age and are not married? Even if the ex re-married? If his is higher than the amount you would collect on your own, you can opt for his instead. It's no wonder SSA is in trouble.

Today we went over FERS Social Security, and health & life benefits. Tomorrow will be Thrift Savings Plan, estate planning and taxes. Last day will be more taxes & estate planning, and transitioning. I have a binder 1 1/2 inches thick of information, plus I'm taking pictures of some of the slides which have checklists.

---

 NEW LAW ALERT! if you were planning on collecting on your part of your ex spouse (or current spouse) SS when you turn 62 and then collect your full one at 70 you are in retirement planning hell right now.  New law is you have to exercise the benefit by April 29 2016 to collect your portion of the spouse thing.  If you are not 62 by the end of the month you are **** out of luck.  Yep!

Coyotes have been spotted nearby. I cannot send the dog out alone to pee anymore. Between the coyotes and the birds of prey, this little doggy is in some serious danger. He is snack sized and looks delicious I am sure.

Mellow Momma wrote:

---

Coyotes have been spotted nearby. I cannot send the dog out alone to pee anymore. Between the coyotes and the birds of prey, this little doggy is in some serious danger. He is snack sized and looks delicious I am sure.

---

 Have they actually been seen or just heard? 

We have a pack that roams through rather often. You should hear them celebrate a kill.

Anyway. 

If you are not seeing skat in your yard or in the immediate vicinity, you are not in their route.

Of course watch for them. 

Chances are, your dog will know if they are around before you.

Contact your local wildlife authority and report these sightings.

I don't know how familiar you are with coyotes, but know they generally stay away from people. 

But if you do see one, don't run. Stay calm and move away carefully. 

lilyofcourse wrote:

---

Mellow Momma wrote:

---

Coyotes have been spotted nearby. I cannot send the dog out alone to pee anymore. Between the coyotes and the birds of prey, this little doggy is in some serious danger. He is snack sized and looks delicious I am sure.

---

 Have they actually been seen or just heard? 

We have a pack that roams through rather often. You should hear them celebrate a kill.

Anyway. 

If you are not seeing skat in your yard or in the immediate vicinity, you are not in their route.

Of course watch for them. 

Chances are, your dog will know if they are around before you.

Contact your local wildlife authority and report these sightings.

I don't know how familiar you are with coyotes, but know they generally stay away from people. 

But if you do see one, don't run. Stay calm and move away carefully. 

---

 Where I live they just walk down the street like they own the place.  Totally unafraid.

TIG!!!!

So glad to see you Tig! How are you?

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:

---

FNW wrote:

---

To learn my options. There are a ton of considerations. I will have three different sources of income which will kick in at various times or same time, depending on when I want them to start. Delay one or two, get more in the end. Start early, take a reduction. Then there's the benefits...my health insurance will remain with me and my DH for life, for the kids until they turn 26.

Did you know if you were married 10 or more years to an ex, you can collect his social security if you are over a certain age and are not married? Even if the ex re-married? If his is higher than the amount you would collect on your own, you can opt for his instead. It's no wonder SSA is in trouble.

Today we went over FERS Social Security, and health & life benefits. Tomorrow will be Thrift Savings Plan, estate planning and taxes. Last day will be more taxes & estate planning, and transitioning. I have a binder 1 1/2 inches thick of information, plus I'm taking pictures of some of the slides which have checklists.

---

 NEW LAW ALERT! if you were planning on collecting on your part of your ex spouse (or current spouse) SS when you turn 62 and then collect your full one at 70 you are in retirement planning hell right now.  New law is you have to exercise the benefit by April 29 2016 to collect your portion of the spouse thing.  If you are not 62 by the end of the month you are **** out of luck.  Yep!

---

 I have not seen that...where did you hear that?

I couldn't find it on the SSA website. Interesting. Well, you can collect either your or 1/2 of theirs, which ever is greater, currently.

FNW wrote:

---

I couldn't find it on the SSA website. Interesting. Well, you can collect either your or 1/2 of theirs, which ever is greater, currently.

---

 If you do not file as such by the 29th of April, that statement will no longer be true.  AND you can only file you intention if you are already eligible by that date.  So anyone under the age of 62 who had this as part of their retirement plan now need to rethink that plan.

It affects the file and suspend rules that people have taken advantage of.

Per Clark Howard -

Whether you are retiring now or 10 years from now, you need to be aware of these important changes to Social Security because it could impact your retirement planning.

As of November 2, 2015, President Obama signed, and thereby enacted into law, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Subtitle C, Section 831 of this bill includes significant changes to Social Security benefits. These changes include the phase out of filing strategies referred to as “unintended loopholes” -- known as file-and-suspend and the restricted application for spousal benefits -- created previously by Congress back in 2000.

Read more: 9 ways to spend your remaining FSA dollars
What's changing in 2016?

I wrote this article with the intent of sharing the main highlights, who may be impacted, and how the changes may relate to your overall financial planning.

Before you start worrying about being personally impacted let me share with you who will NOT be impacted:

Anyone who is age 70 and up and is already receiving Social Security benefits. This group should see no change as a result of this new law.
Anyone who is between age 66 and 69 (and suspends their benefit) by April 30, 2016, will be “grandfathered in” and can still utilize the retroactive lump sum option. If you were not planning on taking a lump sum then these new legislative changes will not impact you.
Anyone who is between age 66 and 69 (and suspends their benefit) by April 30, 2016, can still have the option to suspend their benefit and allow it to grow, while at the same time their spouse can file a restricted application at full retirement age (which allows them to collect spousal benefits only).
Anyone who is age 62 (by December 31, 2015) will still have the option to file a restricted application (filing for a spousal benefit only) when they reach full retirement age (66) as long as either: (1) Your spouse “filed and suspended” their benefit prior to April 30, 2016 or (2) Your spouse is already receiving their lifetime benefit (anytime between 62-70).

If you do not turn age 62 by the end of 2015 these new Social Security rules will apply to you. The ability for your spouse to file a restricted application (filing and collecting a spousal benefit only) if you choose to suspend your benefit will not be available. In other words, your spouse can not collect their “spousal benefit” unless you are collecting your benefit.

From our understanding of the new provisions, once you reach your full retirement age, the option to collect a retroactive lump sum will not be available to you. This applies to anyone who has still not reached age 66 by April 30, 2016.
What you need to do before the end of April 2016

If you turn 66 by April 29 of this year, you can still file for Social Security and suspend your benefits so your spouse can file a restricted application down the road. But you have to do this by the April 29 deadline.

Plan to do this if your spouse was at least 62 on Jan. 1 of this year. That's because people in this age group will still be allowed to file a restricted application for spousal benefits when they turn 66, even under the new rules.

So by doing this, one spouse can take their spousal benefit right now -- even as both spouses delay claiming their own benefits. And every year you wait after 66 to claim your benefits, you have an imputed return of 8% per year. So if instead of claiming your own benefits at 66, you wait until 70, the amount that Social Security pays climbs dramatically. (Benefits no longer increase after 70.)
Tips for dealing with the Social Security Administration

Of course, the Social Security Administration has the final say when it comes to interpreting this statute. So you should expect to run into problems for the coming weeks until everyone gets their head around these rules. Here are some pointers to help you navigate the waters, courtesy of The Wall Street Journal:

If you're hitting a wall with a Social Security agent, ask to speak to a supervisor or technical agent. They may overrule the agent.
Consider filing online to avoid the possibility of dealing with a Social Security agent who doesn't know what's going on.
If you choose to file in person, bring two copies of your request and have the agent stamp both with the date. That way you'll have at least one proof that you filed by the April 29 deadline.

Conclusion

We will continue to watch this situation and keep you up to date on the latest developments as the Social Security Administration implements these new statutes so stay tuned for more. To learn more about how to best utilize Social Security in your retirement strategy, I suggest you read my latest book, You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think.

Check out the AARP website for retirement planning tools and more information here on how to make sure you're getting the maximum benefits.

To learn how to maximize your Social Security payments even with these changes, use this Social Security Optimizer. (Full disclosure: I work for Capital Investment Advisors, the company that hosts this calculator.)

Lawyerlady wrote:

---

It actually makes sense. The old way really was a loophole.

Basically - when a couple reached full retirement age (currently 66.5), then the spouse with the higher income would file for SS, but suspend the benefits to age 70 to get the max benefit - not collecting them now. This would have the effect of allowing you to get the higher benefits at 70. But now the loophole - because the spouse filed (and suspended), the other spouse could get full spousal benefits and then wait to file for their own benefits at 70, allowing them to then switch to their own max benefit. So, the new laws get rid of the file and suspend spousal benefit.

I think it only makes sense.

---

 But not just the current spouse, and ex who was married for 10 years to the person could benefit.  Its a whole retirement planning issue and that is what sucks!  I'm an accountant I know this stuff.  You and I would be a power house!

just Czech wrote:

---

DH is 64 and I am 61, we are skRewEd.

---

 Yep!