Hi, I will turn 66 in November. Last year I married a Filipina lady who is now 50 years old and in the U.S. for the past year and a half on a work visa, with her three teenage daughters. I have a great job (with great medical insurance) that I want to continue until I max out my social security retirement benefit. (With some years of no social security contributions, 2015 was my 35th year contributing, and in 2016 I am replacing 1967 earnings of $100.) I had always planned to wait and file for retirement benefits at age 70, but with a new family I am concerned about my life expectancy. My health is fairly good, but not great. It may be prudent to file and suspend. Would file and suspend put my family in a better position, or if I die before I file, would they get the same survivor's benefits regardless? And are there any other factors that I should take into account? Thanks, Charlie

Charlie, while filing for and suspending your retirement benefit won't jeopardize potential benefits for your wife, there is no reason to file and suspend in your case. Your wife can't receive a spousal benefit until she's 62 by which time you'd be over 70 and would have reinstated your retirement benefit. And her children can't receive child's benefits on your record unless you legally adopt her children. And even then, you'd be suspending now under the new law which means that no auxiliary benefits can be claimed on your record while your retirement benefit is suspended. Thanks, John