Women needs to take an active role in Finance. Men needs to support their spouse by sharing this article with them. Whether you are single, married, divorced or widowed, it is important to know nothing can keep you from getting what is rightfully yours. In this article, I am mainly talking about Social Security benefit.
Here are 10 things every woman should know.
1. If you’ve worked for at least 10 years and earned a minimum of 40 work credits, you are entitled into our Social Security system. Your retirement benefit is figured the same way a man’s retirement benefit is figured. It’s based on a percentage of your average monthly wage using a 35-year base of earnings.
2. When you reach age 62, you are eligible for your own Social Security benefit whether you’re married or not and whether your husband collects Social Security or not.
3. A working woman is not limited to 1/2 of her husband's Social Security, you have your own Social Security Benefit if you have worked.
4. If you are a widow and your husband dies before you, you can apply for widow's rate.
5. If you’re divorced and were married at least 10 years, you’re eligible for some of your ex’s Social Security but only if you remain unmarried at the time your ex is eligible for Social Security. So if you have an ex that want you sign a divorce decree to give up your right to their social security and you had been married at least 10 years, tell him it is not up to him.
6. Any benefits paid to a divorced spouse also doesn't change the ex or ex's current spouse's Social Security Payment.
7. A divorced women can collect their own social security and then apply for higher widow's rate when the ex dies. Of course, you would only want to do that if the widow rate is higher. Widows are due between 71 percent (at age 60) and 100 percent (at full retirement age) of what the husband was getting before he died.
8. You can claim $255 one-time death benefit if you were living with your husband when he died.
9. You are entitled to get the one that pays the higher rate, but no double dipping on both you and your husband's benefit.
10. Check with your local Social Security Office or use this link to keep yourself informed about your current benefit.
Content written by Kimmy Wan
Founder and Chief Wealth Strategist of KW Wealth Management
2377 Gold Meadow way Unit 100
Gold River CA 95670
Tel: 916-758-9218
If you are interested in learning more about the investment process at KW Wealth Management, you can request a free consultation.
Kimmy Wan has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and she is the founder of KW Wealth Management.
Kimmy graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 1998 with a B.S. in Finance and Economics and then obtained her M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Phoenix. She has been a Vice President-Sr. Financial Consultant, Manager of Asia Pacific Relationship Management and a Mutual Fund Operation Analyst for financial corporations. Kimmy is an expert wealth advisor in helping those who are retired as well as those planning for retirement. Kimmy specializes in modern portfolio management, risk management, financial planning, and investment strategic planning.
Kimmy specializes in modern portfolio management, risk management, financial planning, and investment strategic planning. Kimmy has native fluency in Chinese Mandarin and Cantonese.