Ask Larry: Questions and Answers

My wife is turning 62 Nov. the 9th 2017. She is told that her first check will be delivered Jan. 10th 2018. That means she will be 62 for 2 months before she receives her first check. When she dies, if it be the first of any month, the last of any month, or the middle of any month, she will not get the Dec. check as she will be dead. So I am assuming that check will either go to her estate or will be gobbled up by our needful gov. Is this the way it works?? If it is, it is a damn shame that our Gov. finds it necessary to steal from the poor people that depend on their SS . . . Read More

Larry or Jerry, I am 52, my husband is 62. I have mostly retired (at age 45). I work occasionally. Some years I add to my high 35, but only because it fills the place of summer jobs in high school. My husband is also mostly retired and makes a minimal amount of money. My estimated benefits are just a little bit lower than my husbands, but could possibly equal his if I work several more years. My thought was to have my husband wait until 70 to collect his social security, collect my spousal benefit at age 62, switch to my retirement at 67 (FRA) then collect survivor benefit upon . . . Read More

I work for a school district and will receive a pension upon retirement. I have not paid enough into social security to have any benefits of my own, so I'm not concerned about the WEP. I have three plan choices, with my husband receiving no benefits, half benefits, and full benefits if I die first. Of course, the monthly pension is greatest with no spousal benefits (roughly $3200, $3000, and $2850 respectively under the three scenarios). My husband will receive social security benefits of about $2600 per month. Due to GPO reductions, does it still make sense for me to choose a . . . Read More

I am reading Get What's Yours. I am 59 and 10 months old. I had planned on retiring at 66 and 8 months, my FRA. But now, am wondering if I am understanding your 'rules' correctly. I was married for 15 years, and have now been divorced for another 15 years. My ex made considerably more money than I have. He is 8 years older than I, turning 69 at the end of this month. he has been collecting his SS for several years now. IF I understand correctly, I can file for spousal benefits at 62, and allow my own account to continue to grow, as well as still work - at least part time - (or . . . Read More