Hi, I am 65 and began taking social security at 62. My wife is 63 and has not begun taking it yet. She receives a state pension for her time working for a city government (not paying into ss in those years), but has also accrued some benefits in the private sector over the years qualifying her for social security (well under $2,000 per month). Should she earn more in the private sector over the next few years to beef up the ss benefit significantly? If so, how many months should she earn this higher income? Or quit working now if it is to her detriment and take her minimal ss benefits now, or at 66? Or something in between? Does the software take these parameters into account in suggesting the optimal way for our family? Thanks, Pete

Pete, it's not possible to say without more information and you'll really have to run the software to answer these interconnected questions. The software will account for the fact that you've already filed, that your wife has limited Social Security covered income and a non-covered pension, and that she has options about how much covered income to earn now and in the future. You can enter the required information as well as different levels of current and future covered income for her to determine your best course. Thanks, John