Filing Options

Hello. My husband is 65 and plans to work until he is 66 next year. I am 18 months younger and no longer work. We plan for him to start taking his social security at 70. Because he has worked for 15 years more than I have, his benefit is higher than mine (but not by much since I made more than he did when I worked). I am considering whether I should wait until I am 70 or take benefits at 68 1/2 when he starts his. Can I receive spousal benefits for the months between the time he takes his at 70 and I reach 70? Thank-you

Hi,

My wife began taking social security at age 63. She will be 66 (FRA) in February 2020. I am 64 (FRA 66/2) and still working and will have a much higher benefit when I collect. I would like to retire in the next 2 years and live off other savings and retirement accounts and wait until 70 to collect social security to maximize my benefit (and her survivor benefit if applicable). Can I collect spousal benefits on her record in the meantime (until I turn 70), knowing it would be a small, but helpful, benefit?

Hi,

IM RECEIVING BENEFITS FOR WHAT I WORKED BUT NEVER GOT WIDOWS BENEFITS. SS KEPT IT. BECAUSE THEY SAY HE EARNED LESS. NOT FAIR

Hi,

Hi Larry
Love your articles, I read the every time I have a chance.

I worked for 26 years for the same employer and was able to retire at 58, in 2018. My husband stopped working at 58 also, he cashed out his 401k.

He plans on filing for SSA at 62, we know he's going to get penalized for filing early and I plan to wait until I turn 70. I guess my question is, how is this going to affect the benefit amount he gets, and will I have to apply for spousal benefits when he does?

I was the higher earner at 72K yearly when I retired.

Hi,

I retired @ 60 on disability. @ 65 the disability changed to regular SS. I took a loss for early retirement so my benefit amount is set in stone. My spouse turned 62 this year & still working. Can I collect on spousal benefits now or what are my options? I’m also looking into full time employment but it will be after I turn 66 on 11/29/19.

My mother is 70 and retired. She and my father divorced in 1997. He died 2 years later. Mom is currently receiving survivor benefits of $926 after deductions. Can she also get her retirement benefits of $655?

Hi,

I am 62 1/2 yrs, born January, 1957. I have been out of work since July 2019. I have required work credits and in fact have worked 2 jobs up until 2016, now I can't even work one job. I am applying for social security disability. Since I cannot function, I thought I would retire from my position and receive my company pension, since this will not be enough monies to live on I don't know how to proceed. Should I file for SS disability first, then regular social security so I can at least have a little more money come in monthly?

My friends husband is incarcerated since 2014 at age 69. My friend his wife will turn 62 in 2022. Can she collect his social security since it is larger? If he passes before she turns 62 would she be able to collect widows benefits? Can she collect her ss as well as his?

Hi,

My wife and I are both 66 years old (FRA) and born prior to 1/2/1954. I plan to continue working full time until 70. My wife worked part time for most of her career, so she qualified for social security but at less than the maximum per year. Given our circumstances, we thought my wife could file a restricted application for spousal benefits and still allow her retirement benefits to grow until age 70. However, the SS office said my wife cannot get spouse's benefits until I file for retirement benefits. Is that accurate? What would you suggest? (and thanks for your response!)

Hi Larry. A few years ago I received your calculations on how to maximize my SS benefit. Money well spent! I have a couple of questions about the SS DAC benefit but first let me give you some details about my/our situation. My current plan is to retire and take SS benefit at age 66 in 2020 (my FRA). My wife will be age 59 at that time. My income over the last 35 years has been much higher than hers. My current SS age 66 est. benefit is $2855/mo. My current est. family benefit total is $4997/mo.