Hi Larry,

Is spousal benefit still available? I will be 65 buy 2021, planning to claim social security by 70 (2026), can I claim spousal benefit of my wife (64 by 2021) without filing for my own social security benefit? Thank you.

Hi,

Yes, Social Security still pays spousal benefits, however, no one born after January 1 1954 is allowed to file for spousal benefits without also filing for their own benefits at the same time unless they have an eligible child in their care (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/claiming.html). Therefore, since you were apparently born in 1956, the only way that you could file just for spousal benefit while waiting until age 70 to file for your own benefits is if you have a child in your care who is eligible for benefits on your wife's record and who is either under age 16 or is disabled.

You and your wife may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze the options available to you in order to determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry