Larry, I have read "Get What's Yours" but I have a question. I am turning 65 and my wife just turned 53. She has been receiving SS Disability (stroke in 2010) since around 2011. We don't 'need' my social security retirement check at this point but my question is what is the best approach for us to maximize our ss retirement benefits?

Second question: I wasn't intending to take my SS until age 70. Although we don't 'need' the ss retirement check my wife is worried that she won't be able to collect spousal benefits if I don't start at age 66 or 67. What do you advise?

I am 67 and my wife is 62. I plan to enroll in SS when I am 70. My FRA is 2600/month. My wife would receive $1000 at FRA. We are both healthy. Any recommendations?

Hi,

My wife DOB 2/11/55 has SSDI, $2150 per month. I DOB 8/2/53 am still working, and will have the maximum benefit from SS- looks like about $3,590 when I retire. What is our best strategy? I plan to defer drawing SS until I am 70. Can my wife file and suspend at FRA and then receive a spousal benefit for the 2 years until I start SS?

Hi,

I am a 67 year old woman working as an adjunct professor at an area college. My salary is low and is subsidized by a small alimony payment and additional part-time work I get seasonally. I originally decided to wait to collect on my social security until I was age 70, to maximize my benefits, but am concerned that the laws governing social security may change. Is is still wise to wait to collect, or should I start taking social security now? My second question is, "Would it be wise to collect on my former husband's social security instead of my own?

My husband and I are both 61 years old. We are both retired with pensions and retirement savings. What would be the best strategy for collecting SS? My full amount at age 66.6 is approx $1800.00. My husbands at 66.6 will be approx 2500. At 70 his will be 3300. Thanks!

Hi,

In my opinion it would likely be best for at least your husband to wait until age 70 to start drawing his benefits. That would assure him of receiving the highest possible benefit rate for life, which would also carry over to your widow's rate should he die before you.

I was born in January 1953 and my husband in October 1953. He has been on Social Security Disability for about 10 years. I have read your book Get What's Yours, and know about some of subsequent changes to the rules. I am planning on applying to receive spousal benefits in January when I am 66 (approx $9,000/yr) and then switching over to my own benefits at 70 (approx $40,000/yr). I believe that because my husband is on disability I can apply for benefits in January even though he will only be 65 at that point. Is that correct, or do I have to wait until he turns 66?

Larry, should I defer my government pension as well as my SS benefit to age 70? I will not see an increased public pension by waiting but I want to reduce the impact of WEP. I am planning to take my government pension now, age 67, and wait until age 70 for SS. THANK YOU

Hi,

I am 60 yrs old and have been a nurse for many years. I have applied for SSDI but have not been approved as yet.( I expect they will deny it ) I am divorced and my ex-husband is 82 yrs old and he began taking his Social security at age 62 and he has remarried. We were married for 16 yrs and have been divorced for over 2 yrs. He is in poor health and I don't expect him to live much longer.

Hi, My wife is planning to retire in June 2019 from teaching and start collecting her pension and Social Security. She will be 2 months shy of 64 years old. Her full benefits will be higher than her spousal benefits would be.
I'm planning on retiring in March 2020 when I'm 66 and 8 months old. When she retires, should I start collecting spousal benefits or just wait until I retire to collect my own SS benefits?

Hi,

I am 69 and have been collecting my social security benefits since age 66. My wife will be 66 in 3 months and is still working. Our plan is for her to file for half of my benefit at her FRA allowing her benefits to grow. At age 70 she plans to switch to her own benefits which should be more than half of mine. Does this sound like a good strategy?

Hi,

Yes, but please note that I'm basing that opinion solely on the limited information in your question.

Best, Jerry