I believe the best SS strategy for me is to commence benefits 11/18 with no retroactive benefits. This would give me 7 months of DRC (birthday 4/4/52) and provide a benefit of right around $2100 per month. DRC's would then be included with 1st payment in 1/19. If there are indications of huge medicare part B premium increase, I could request 1 month retroactive benefit and then be held harmless (already paying part B on my own at $134/month). I'm currently collecting on an annuity that pays approximately $1000/month.

I'm 73, retired, started collecting Social Security at FRA. My wife is 57 1/2 retired on a pension of 11180 per year. Can my wife collect benefits at 62 on her own employment record and when I die, wait until her FRA and collect her own benefit and 1/2 of my FRA benefit. I am guessing that the amount she would receive at my death would be approximately what my benefit was.

Hi,

What should be my strategy with IRA withdrawal and SS.

Dear Jerry, I reads your Jan 15 2018 explanation of Spousal Benefits and delayed retirement credits. My wife just hit her FRA at 66 but started drawing her own SS at 62. At that time we had been told by an advisor that, if she drew early, anytime before I began to draw my SS, she could file a "restricted application for spousal benefits" when she hit her FRA. Upon filing the restricted application she could for a full 50% of my payment and drop her claim.

I had the pleasure of reading your book GET WHAT'S YOURS that made me think about the best Social Security strategy for my family. My husband has reached his FRA and keeps working. I am planning to retire at 65 from my teaching job at the end of the school year. Can my husband file restricted application for his spousal benefit while working full time after I get my Social Security retirement benefits? If the answer is "yes," will he automatically get Part A Medicare that he doesn't have now due to HSA at his job?

If I file for SS benefits at 64.4 and then my husband, who was born 4-13-53 files for a restricted spousal benefit at 66, so his SS can grow till 70, but he should die at 68, could I then suspend mine, take a widow benefit at 66 and let my SS grow until maxed out at 70, and then go back to my SS??????

Hi,

Hello again,
It's now 2018 and I was curious whether there has been any clarification by SSA on the issue that I raised previously regarding "Can I Stay On Child-In-Care Benefits Until Age 70?" (see below). If not, any advice on what I should do is much appreciated.
Many thanks for your response.

My husband just applied for his social security at his age of 66. I will not turn 66 till 8 months later. Can i claim on his social security and wait to claim on my benefits at age 70? His amount is 2400 a month.

Kay

Hi Kay,

Retroactive Spousal Benefits: Hi Larry, my husband and I will be 66 and FRA this year. My husband will start SS benefits in April at his FRA while I am still working and plan to start SS benefits in 2019. My husband will file for spousal benefit once I file because half of mine is higher than his. If I file for the benefit on my record in June 2019 and take the retro 6 month payment, can my husband switch to spousal benefit retro too? Or would his spousal only start in June 2019?

Question about coordinating/maximizing our benefits: