Question: How does the US Social Security Admin. define "months"?

[blue_green_sparks]

I could not find the answer via search attempts or the Social Security site. Does anyone know if "12 months" would be, for example, Feb 13 to Feb 13 or would it be some other method or formula? Thanks.

[lhamo]

Can you be more specific about WHY you want this definition?

For purposes of calculating monthly benefits, I believe (though it is not explicitly stated on this page (https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/Benefits.html) that the SSA uses earnings per calendar year.  That is how your earnings show up on your SSA documents.  They used to use "quarters" to see if you met the minimum earnings to qualify for the credits you need to qualify for disability and Medicare, but I think now as long as you meet the minimum earnings for a calendar year they automatically credit you with all four quarters.

[blue_green_sparks]

Yeah, long-time girlfriend became my wife this year and there is this rule about how you have to be married 9 months before spousal death benefits become a thing and also at least 12 months before she would be eligible to file under my record. I was curious how they define 9 or 12 months.

[secondcor521]

Yeah, long-time girlfriend became my wife this year and there is this rule about how you have to be married 9 months before spousal death benefits become a thing and also at least 12 months before she would be eligible to file under my record. I was curious how they define 9 or 12 months.

Not sure but I'd guess calendar months.  So if you were married on June 15th, she'd gain eligibility on March 15th and June 15th next year.  Try not to die?  Beware the Ides of March?

[blue_green_sparks]

Yeah, long-time girlfriend became my wife this year and there is this rule about how you have to be married 9 months before spousal death benefits become a thing and also at least 12 months before she would be eligible to file under my record. I was curious how they define 9 or 12 months.

Not sure but I'd guess calendar months.  So if you were married on June 15th, she'd gain eligibility on March 15th and June 15th next year.  Try not to die?  Beware the Ides of March?

Yeah, staying alive is always a priority but geez, I wonder how many folks fall just short of those sorts of rules that are meant to discourage marriages of convenience.

[Agatha Thrifty]

I have an academic interest in this topic.  My birthday is at the end of August, which puts my half-birthday somewhere in February 29/30/31, so I have a Pirates of Penzance problem here with regard to my eligibility to withdraw from retirement funds without penalty at age 59-1/2.

But not really of course, since I am not really expecting to cut it that close, and will just wait until the following month to be sure.

[secondcor521]

Yeah, long-time girlfriend became my wife this year and there is this rule about how you have to be married 9 months before spousal death benefits become a thing and also at least 12 months before she would be eligible to file under my record. I was curious how they define 9 or 12 months.

Not sure but I'd guess calendar months.  So if you were married on June 15th, she'd gain eligibility on March 15th and June 15th next year.  Try not to die?  Beware the Ides of March?

Yeah, staying alive is always a priority but geez, I wonder how many folks fall just short of those sorts of rules that are meant to discourage marriages of convenience.

Probably some.  Since it's a government entitlement program, they have to draw a line somewhere, and someone will always fall on "the wrong" side of the line.  You two obviously married for love, so dying on March 14th would be unfortunate.  Someone else did a marriage for convenience on the same day, died on March 16th, and succeeded in loopholing SS and the federal government.  :shrug:

@Agatha Thrifty, I know in that specific case that the law doesn't define 59 1/2 for purposes of avoiding the early withdrawal penalty.  I would just wait (366/2)+1 days after your birthday and call it good.  I strongly doubt the IRS would come after you in that scenario if your real name isn't Peter Thiel.