1) How long can a spouse draw on the retired spouses Social Security? Can it continue after he turns 70?
2) Waiting till age 70 maximizes your monthly SS check which I have done. When getting ready to start drawing on my age 70 benefit, SS has offered to go back 6 months for a monthly amount of $96 less than the max amount to begin at age 70. The 6 month total of back pay is over 18,ooo. According to our calculations it would take 16 years to make up the difference if taking the greater amount at age 70 without the 6 month total back pay.
Can you wait to start collecting the max age 70 benefit amount until more than 6 months after turning 70 and still have the option of the 6 month back pay larger check?

Hi. There is no statutory limit on the length of time that a person can collect any type of Social Security benefit. Benefits can continue for life as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements. But, if you're drawing spousal benefits and if you become entitled to a higher benefit on your own account, your spousal benefit would be terminated effective with the first month of your entitlement to higher benefits on your own record. You can't be paid both your own benefit and a full spousal benefit for the same month(s), regardless of when you apply for benefits.

If you were born prior to January 2 1954 and if you're currently collecting spousal benefits only, you could wait until 6 months after you turn age 70 and then claim benefits retroactively back to the month you turned age 70. But, if you do that, Social Security won't pay you in full for the retroactive months of entitlement. Instead, they would subtract from your back pay the amount of spousal benefits that you were already paid for those months. In other words, your back pay would only amount to the difference between your spousal rate and your own higher benefit rate.

It sounds like you may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze all of your options so that you can determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry