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Liz Weston

Q&A: Widower can file for survivor benefits now and his own later

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Dear Liz: My sister and brother-in-law were both 68 when she passed away last December. She had been on Social Security disability since her mid 50s until it was converted to retirement in her 60s. He is the higher wage earner and still working. Can he file for survivor benefits now, and then file for his own retirement benefits after he stops working when he turns 70?

Answer: Yes. Since your brother-in-law has passed his full retirement age of 67, he won’t face the earnings test that would otherwise reduce any Social Security benefits he receives. His applying for a survivor’s benefit now won’t preclude him from applying for his own benefit later. His own benefit can continue to grow until it’s maxed out at age 70.

Note that survivor benefits have different rules than spousal benefits, which are based on the earnings record of someone who is still alive. When applying for a spousal benefit, you’re also considered to be applying for your own, and you’ll get the larger of the two. There’s no switching later.

Q&A: Filing a tax return after a parent dies

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Dear Liz: My mother’s only income was Social Security. Her accountant told her many years prior to her passing that she didn’t need to file a tax return. I was the executor of her trust and told the attorney I hired to help settle the estate that I would file her final tax return. I never did. That was 10 years ago. Now I feel that I should have filed it back then and am wondering if I should do it now or forget about it.

Answer: If you still have access to her paperwork, you can review her bank statements to see if there is any indication her income climbed enough in her last years to require filing an income tax return. If so, you can consult a tax pro about next steps.

But you’re probably fine, says estate planning attorney Jennifer Sawday in Long Beach.

If your mother was under the threshold for filing an income tax return, there would have been no reason to file a final return after she died, Sawday says.

Q&A: Should a spouse start Social Security now or later?

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Dear Liz: I waited until age 70 to start collecting Social Security. My wife turns 65 this year so her full retirement age is 67. Can she start collecting Social Security benefits now based on my benefit or should we wait until her full retirement age?

Answer: If she applies for Social Security now, she would be “deemed” to be applying for both her own benefit and her spousal benefit and given the larger of the two. She would not be allowed to switch to the other benefit later.

Most people are better off waiting at least until their full retirement age to apply, and many will maximize their lifetime benefits by delaying until age 70. Her mileage may vary, of course, so it’s worth using a Social Security claiming calculator and consider getting advice from an objective source, such as a fee-only financial advisor.

Q&A: Inherited IRA could increase tax bill and Medicare premiums

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Dear Liz: If someone inherits my retirement account, is there any way they can avoid having their Medicare premiums increased for one year?

Answer: A large-enough retirement account could affect their Medicare premiums for up to 10 years, not just one.

Normally inheritances aren’t taxable, but retirement accounts are the exception. Withdrawals from inherited retirement accounts are usually taxable as income, and most non-spouse inheritors must drain a retirement account within 10 years. Withdrawals from inherited Roth accounts aren’t taxable, but the accounts still must be drained by the inheritor within a decade.

If the inheritor is on Medicare, taxable withdrawals could boost income enough to increase their Medicare premiums, thanks to the income-related monthly adjustment amounts (IRMAA). This surcharge starts once modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain amounts, which in 2025 is $106,000 for single filers and $212,000 for married couples filing jointly.

Anyone who inherits a retirement plan should get advice from a tax pro, but that’s particularly important when withdrawals might affect tax brackets and Medicare premiums. The pro can help determine how quickly or slowly the money should be withdrawn to maximize how much the inheritor gets to keep.

Q&A: Simplify your finances with fewer credit cards

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Dear Liz: I have too many credit cards that I opened to get frequent flier points. I understand that closing a credit card lowers your credit scores. How long does the ding last? How long should I wait before closing another card? Do you have any other advice on this subject? You probably have discussed this in previous columns but it might be worth repeating.

Answer: If you have a lot of cards, closing a few is unlikely to significantly hurt your credit scores as long as you do so strategically.

A big chunk of your credit scores is determined by how much of your available credit you’re using. You want a large gap between the amounts you charge and your credit limits. Try to keep open the cards with the highest credit limits. If you have multiple cards with the same issuer, ask if the credit limit from a card you’re closing can be transferred to one you’re keeping.

Even if your scores do dip because of a closure, the effect is likely to be short-lived if you continue using credit responsibly.

Ideally, you would review your portfolio of credit cards every year or so to determine which cards to keep and which to close. Travel rewards cards typically have annual fees, sometimes significant ones, so you’ll want to make sure every card you have is at least paying for itself in annual rewards and benefits.

Also consider the mental load involved. As you age, you may find it more difficult to monitor multiple accounts and keep track of all the details. You may want to simplify your finances by winnowing your cards down to just one or two. At that point, keeping your finances manageable will be more important than maintaining the highest possible credit scores.

Q&A: Don’t need your RMD? Consider a QCD

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Dear Liz: When you’re writing about required minimum distributions from retirement accounts, please make sure people know about qualified charitable distributions. Those of us lucky enough not to need the money can donate it directly from an IRA to the nonprofits of our choice. That way, we don’t even have it in our income column, and there are no taxes. I am looking forward to making many qualified charitable distributions to my favorite nonprofits when I turn 73.

Answer: You don’t have to wait. Qualified charitable distributions from IRAs can start as early as age 70½. The distribution limit for 2025 is $108,000 per individual. If you’re considering this option, please familiarize with the IRS rules for such distributions and consider consulting a tax pro.