I purchased your Maximize plan approximately a year and a half ago. I ran many scenarios and decided to follow the suggested Maximize Plan to delay collecting SS until I am 70 and my wife will be 65. She does not have her own history. My PIA is about $3100 and my SS at 70 is projected to be about $4100. I just read a SS provision regarding Maximum Family Benefit when using only one spouse's benefit. I am curious and concerned that we would be over that Family limit at age 70 when we both start collecting my SS and her spousal benefit. My question is there a chance that I would be over this limit and does the Maximize formula take this into consideration? Thank you.

Hi. No. The family maximum benefit (FMB) amount could never reduce the amount of benefits payable to a worker and their spouse if the worker is collecting Social Security retirement benefits and if no children are collecting benefits on the worker's record. Delayed retirement credit (DRC) increases don't count against the FMB, so even if a worker waits until age 70 to start collecting benefits, the FMB on their record would always be high enough to permit both the worker and their spouse to be paid their full benefit rates.

And, yes, our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) is fully programmed to consider FMBs when determining the best strategy for maximizing benefits.

Best, Jerry