Hi Larry,

Hope your weekend is going well.

On July 15, 2017 I turned 67 years old. In Dec 2017, I will be close to 67.5 yrs old. It means that I will be only six-months shy of my 68th birthday. I was told that within six month of my 68th B'day, I will be entitled to get full benefits equivalent to my 68 yrs age. What I mean that I don't have to wait until July 15, 2018, instead I can get start claiming the same amount equal to my 68th birthday when I claim in Dec 2017 or Jan 2018. Please advise.

Hi,

My question relates to DRC payments. My wife and I were born in Sept 1953 and May 1951 respectively. Your software’s maximized spousal strategy suggests we both choose an entitlement month of December 2019. She’ll file a restricted application for half of my FRA. Presumably my DRCs will initially only be calculated as of December 2018, then recouped later. However, waiting one month until January 2020 changes the maximized outcome very little. Is it possible we can avoid the delay in my full DRCs by both filing for a January 2020 entitlement? Thanks!

Hi,

Dear Larry,
if i stop working 2 years before I turn 70 and have 0 income and then claim benefits, I assume Zero wouid be averaged into the 35 years. If I run the calculator on website when i turn 66 in 2018 my benefit is $2341/mo; at 70 it is $3164 if I were to continue earning what I earn now. I have worked 35 years as of this year.
Will my benefit increase if I defer claiming until I am 70 even if i do not have income?
thank you very much.

Hi,

Hello! Currently 69yo, I have had severe heart disease since age 59 (2007); I received disablity "confirmation" within 24 hours (!!!) and rec'd SSDI for the allotted time (48 months I think). Then my SS switched to regular SS at the rate I would have rec'd by taking retirement at 63 - but I didn't retire, I was unable to work. If I were able to work, I would have until age 70 (easily). A friend told me that I could get an 8% increase in my SS payments because I have been/am disabled. True? If so, how do I go about making this happen? Thanks, -Nan

Hi Nan,

I am 65 and 5 months. My FRA is 66. No one else can get benefits on my account. If I filed right now my benefit would be $1572.00 per month. I am not working right now but I am looking for work. I have debt that I am anxious to pay off . I am living on a $1200. per month pension right now. My concerns are if I file now, pay off my a debt and (being at FRA by then) can I suspend my benefits? If I do that will my future benefit increase by 8% per year?

Hi there! I will turn 66 (FRA) in November of 2018. I plan to work until July 1, 2019. If I postpone collecting Social Security benefits until age 70, will my benefits increase during the 4 year period from age 66 to 70, even though I have stopped working and am not paying into Social Security during those 4 years? Thanks!

Hi,

I postponed retiring until age 67 in 8/16 - SS incorrectly calculated I was to received benefits based on the age of 66 1/2. When I finally got the age issue straighten out I was told I would receive retro benefits for the delayed retirement.
Today I am being told I am owed retro benefits from January 2017 instead of back to Aug 2016 when they made the wrong age calculation. What can I do to get the retro benefit amount for 2016 paid to me?

Hi,

I have a question about delayed retirement credits (DRCs), and am wondering if you can provide a precise, crystal-clear answer. It's my understanding that DRCs are calculated at the end of each calendar year, not in mid-year. So if I file to begin payments after age 66 (my FRA) and before age 70, my initial benefit amount will include DRCs for the month when I turn 66 through the end of the previous year prior to the effective date of initial payment.

This is related to my previous question, So Which Is Right, Jerry answered on Jun 17 2017 - 7:32am
First of all, thank you for very prompt reply.
But that was not kind of confusion on my side that Jerry suggested.
This is the situation:
I called SSA 06/15/2017, and gave to a SSA representative I was talking to this information:
- I am turning 69 this year. My Social Security benefits were initiated and immediately suspended as of November 2014, so I will receive benefit with DRC when I start receiving them.

Dear Larry,
On your site you state that widow's benefits do include the worker's delayed retirement credits, for example on this page:
http://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/will-my-wife-be-able-collect-larger-...