If a spouse has been claiming her retirement benefit for a few years, and the husband just now is claiming his benefit at age 70 and realizes he could have filed a restricted application, is he limited to claiming only six months of retroactive spousal benefits? Or could he protest and get spousal benefits for the full period that his wife has been collecting?

My wife filed for SS retirement benefits at her FRA. She was born in October, 1953. I then filed for spousal benefits (under her work record). I was born in June 1952. I reach 70 years of age this June and would like to file for retirement benefits under my own work record. when should I request (file) that change? Further, will my wife have to request (file) for spousal benefits under my work record after my request is approved, or will SS automatically increase her benefit?

Professor Kotlifoff,

After my wife reached her full retirement age, she applied for her benefits. Knowing that her benefits would not equal 50% of mine, she was under the impression that the SS department would calculate that for her. She estimated on the SS form the 50% amount and left it at that. When she received her benefit estimate, it was the amount that she would receive before considering the 50% spousal option. What did she do wrong and how can we fix it?

Larry
Thanks for helping
I will apply for social security later this year, I will be 62 in February.
I was married a long time ago and do not have the date of marriage but have the divorce date, The marriage did not last 10 years.
I was married after that and it lasted 21 years and I have those dates.
Do I need to know the exact date of the first marriage? I am having trouble locating it. To apply must i know the exact dates of the marriages and divorces or only the one that lasted more than 10 years?
Thanks

Yesterday I began filling out the incorrect application for benefits form. I needed to do the retirement application for benefits and mistakenly began the disability application. I DID NOT SIGN AND SUBMIT IT!! When I return to complete the correct one the system takes me to the unsubmitted disability one. How can I safely fix this? After being on hold for an hour the SSA rep did not know what to do. I'm afraid to do anything for fear it will mess things up. Help and TY!

I will turn 70 in August, which is when I intended to begin my social security income. But I also will have a large retirement buyout from my employer in 2022, placing me into a much more expensive Medicare Part B bracket. Therefore, how can I delay receiving the first five months of social security benefits (August-December, 2022) until 2023? Do I sign up now and ask the 2022 payouts to be delayed for five months, or do I sign up online in January, 2023 and ask to receive five months retroactively?

My wife took her SS benefits at 66 (DOB 3-21-52) and I filed spousal benefits. Now, I will need to file for my own benefits on August 27th ,2022. (my DOB 8-27-1952 ) Can I do this on line or do I need to make an appointment with SS office in person? How far ahead of time do we have to do this?

How do I get the application for Medicare and SSDI.

Hi. You can apply for benefits online at Social Security's website: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/, or by calling Social Security at 800-771-1213.

Best, Jerry

Larry,
I turn 70 August 9th 2022. When is the earliest I can file for the max benefit? Additionally, my wife turns 63 on August 23rd in the same year. We plan on waiting until her FRA for her benefit. Is that the best option ? Thanks.