I filed for SS at FRA starting in January 2018, filed for husband at FRA starting in April 2018. I would like to file for spousal benefits starting in April 2018. Just read that I have to go to a local office to apply & of course you have to call the national office to set up an appointment...55 minute wait to talk to someone & then wait for local office to call you back. Any other thoughts? Guess I was misinformed that I could just apply online for the spousal benefits after my husband filed. This is where I read the bad news. Thanks for your thoughts.

I am 80 years old and drawing Social Security and SSI, my wife just passed away (we had been separated 18 yrs., never divorced). I would like to know which application I am supposed to fill out in order to draw her Social Security in stead of mine.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

The paper application form for widow(er) benefits is an SSA-10, but paper applications are almost never used by Social Security these days. You can file for widower benefits by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting a Social Security office.

Hi larry, i bought the max SS program...went online to social security and bam!
it refused my basic info...said i had to contact them...so after an hour
i got someone who said did you freeze equifax, transunion and experian ..i said yes...
so i went back and unfroze them..no easy feat...experian menu is broken...it goes in a loop and transunion someone from outside and i had to repeat myself 3 times..etc...so after $10+

I'm in 2 yrs. to reach my SS FRA (66) this 3/4/18 planning to SS retire at age 66. Is it wise to plan ahead now or applied/suspend my benefits?
Do you have a book I can order to answer the Ins and Outs (Tips & Tricks) of the Social Security system.

Hi,

Larry, My husband (63) will be applying for social security in October, 2017. I turn 66 (my FRA) in late January, 2018. I will be applying for restricted spousal benefits and let my social security grow until I am 70. Do I have to wait to fill out the application until my actual birthday 1/28/52 or can I apply a few months early so the benefits start soon after my birthday? No where have I read when you can complete the online application for restricted benefits, but I know I cannot receive benefits until my 66th birthday. Thank you.

Hi,

My wife will be filing for her own reduced benefit of $554 at age 62 (02/09/1956) in February 2018 (her FRA would have been $817 at 66 & 4 months). I will be turning 66 in September 2018 (09/11/1952) and will be filing for my FRA of $2200/month. Will she automatically start receiving her Spousal Benefit when I start receiving my benefits, or does she need to apply? Can she delay applying for the spousal benefit until she reaches her FRA (June 2022) so she can get the full 50% of my benefit? Can this all be done online?

Hi,

according TO MAXIMIZE my social security, I have applied for my benefits (age 64) oct 2017. we have a 13 year old. it has recommended that I apply for mine and I should receive child benefits and that my wife ( 60 ) should apply for child in care ...how do we do that ? is it based off my application or does she have to go thru her SS . When I applied online I show no area that indicates child in care , and she does not want to open her SS and mess things up.

Enlighten Me Please....

Hi,

I began collecting my reduced Social Security retirement benefit at 62. A few months later, at his FRA, my husband began receiving a spousal benefit on my record.
Now, he is nearly 70, has retired, and decided to file for his own Social Security benefit beginning in January of 2018. At that time, I will be of FRA, and will file for my excess spousal benefit, if any.

I will turn 70 on Dec. 8, 2017. I am currently receiving a spousal benefit based on my wife's full SS benefit, which started in Feb., 2017. What is the procedure for switching my spousal benefit to my full benefit on Dec. 8, and for switching my wife's current benefit to a spousal benefit based on my full benefit, which will be higher than her current benefit?

Hi,

Dear Mr. Kotlikoff,

I subscribed to your SS maximizing website service several years ago, and had successfully persuaded my wife that I should wait until I turned 70 to take my Social Security benefit. I'm now going on 68 (January 10th, 2018), and Trish (my wife) is going to be 63 on January 16, 2018. I've also purchased and read both editions of the book you wrote with Philip Moeller and Paul Solman.