My question: My wife, who’s 62, has been getting Social Security disability since she was 51. (She had a stroke.) I’m 65.

Her benefits are more than mine.

I am 59 (born 1/59) and my wife is 64 (born 2/54). Her SS benefit is very small because she has mostly been out of the workforce. We will need to maximize our monthly benefit in retirement. I plan to work to 70, health permitting, in order to do maximize my benefit. If she files for her benefit now, is she still eligible to take her spousal benefit when I retire? If she waits 19 months until her FRA, how does it affect her spousal benefit when I retire?

Hi,

Hi,
I'm an (almost) 62 year old single woman. At 62, my reduced social security benefit will be $800 per month. I have been married twice (over 10 years each time) and both marriages have ended in divorce. Both exes have reached full retirement age but have not begun collecting Social Security benefits. Their benefits will be about the same -- $2,400 per month.
One ex has recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and is in failing health with poor prognosis.
Please, give me some strategizing advice for claiming social security benefits.
Thanks!

As a follow-up to your answer to my June 14, 2018 -5:17PM question: "Can I Take Spousal at FRA and allow My own Rate to Grow...."

My husband was on SSDI until 6/17 when he turned 66 and then suspended to earn DRC. Because he was on SSDI I don't think he can file for spousal benefits when I am 66 and I take my own benefit. Correct? Will your software allow for this scenerio?
Thanks Again

Hi,

My husband and I will turn 66 in 2019. I plan on collecting Social Security at FRA. Can my husband file at age 66 and defer payments till age 70 to receive highest benefit amount. Would he qualify to receive 1/2 my SS as a spousal benefit. He was the higher income earner. I met with Social Security rep last month and he said this is true, but having read "How to get what's yours" I don't trust that I was given the correct info and it's A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE!! thanks in advance for your assistance, Kathryn and Tim

Hi Kathryn & Tom,

Dear Larry,

Husband is 68, I am 65 and will turn 66 on January 24, 2019. We did, BARELY make it under File and Suspend on his SS at age 66. How soon can I file for half spousal benefits prior to turning 66? And, should we do this in person at SS office? Any other words of wisdom I should know before pulling trigger on this? Is there any other way to maximize our benefits? Thanks! We bought your book...that's how we were successful with File and Suspend! Thanks so much.

Hi,

I just finished the latest version of "Get What's Yours." Thank you for writing this book. It was most informative. But, I have a situation that I don't believe was covered in the book:

I am 61 with a birthday of 3/30. My wife is 62 and her birthday is 5/5. Her age-70 retirement benefit is less than half of mine (as is her full retirement benefit.) We are not eligible to grandparented under the new law to file-and-suspend or to be excluded from deeming.

Based on the book, under current law, my best strategy seems to be the following:

Hi Larry,
My DOB 05/1956, My wife DOB 12/1959.
We have a 12 yo at home.

Both of us have worked our entire lives and would get benefits.
We don’t really need SS to live day to day.

What would be our best SS strategy? Both of us are retired and have pensions, 401,etc..

Hi,

My husband, born in 1952, has been on SS disability for a few years... he will turn 66 in Sept so his disability will become just SS at that time remaining the same amount as I understand it. I was born in 1951 and turned 66 this past Dec. but have decided to wait until age 70 to begin my SS benefits. Am I eligible for spousal benefits and if so when could I start them? It was my understanding I had to wait until he reached FRA but something I read here suggested people can sometimes draw based on a spouse on SS disability.

My (DOB 9/1951 )PIA is $2,644 and my wife's (DOB 2/1953 ) PIA is $917 our plan is to file for her benefits at her FRA (2/2019) and at the same time I would file a restricted application for for spousal benefits. I am planing to continue working and file for my benefits at 70 ( 9\2021 ) and collect her spousal benefits until then. My question is when I file for my benefits at 70 will my wife be able to increase her benefits to 1/2 of my FRA benefits?
Thanks, Bruce

Hi Bruce,