I was born 4/13/47 and started to receive SS payments at the earliest age possible: 62.5(?). Soon after, my daughters, who were in high school received SS payments as well, until they completed high school. My wife, who was born 12/3/50, has delayed requesting SS payments, on the hope that she could follow your file and suspend strategy. However, we feared we missed out on that opportunity because she will not turn 66 until this December, well after the April "cut off". So presently, here is the strategy that we anticipate following. Please advise if this is optimum:
1. File "restricted application for spousal benefits" to take effect December 2016;
2. File amended status for higher worker benefits to take effect December 2020.

Hi,

Your plan sounds fine, and assuming your wife's own benefit will be higher at age 70 than she can receive as a spouse, it is likely your best strategy. The April deadline only involved changes to voluntary suspension rules under the new law, and your wife would never have benefitted from filing and suspending on her own account, anyway.

I'm not sure what you mean by '2. File amended status for higher worker benefits to take effect December 2020', though. Just to be clear, your wife should file a restricted application for spousal benefits only effective 12/2016. She can start the application process up to 4 months before then. She does not want to file on her own account at that time. Then, shortly before turning age 70, she should file a separate application for retirement benefits on her own account, to be effective with 12/2020.

Best, Jerry