Larry or Jerry, I am 52, my husband is 62. I have mostly retired (at age 45). I work occasionally. Some years I add to my high 35, but only because it fills the place of summer jobs in high school. My husband is also mostly retired and makes a minimal amount of money. My estimated benefits are just a little bit lower than my husbands, but could possibly equal his if I work several more years.

I am reading Get What's Yours. I am 59 and 10 months old. I had planned on retiring at 66 and 8 months, my FRA. But now, am wondering if I am understanding your 'rules' correctly. I was married for 15 years, and have now been divorced for another 15 years. My ex made considerably more money than I have. He is 8 years older than I, turning 69 at the end of this month. he has been collecting his SS for several years now.

I'm 62, began receiving widow's benefits at 61, $2017/mo., based on my deceased husband's income (higher than mine). How do I figure out if it would be more beneficial to me to continue to receive widow's benefits until age 70, or file for SS based on my deceased husband's income?

Hi,

If you are receiving widow's benefits then you must already be drawing on your husband's account, so I'm not entirely sure of what you're asking.

I am 65, husband is 63. I can collect social security early now but if I do, can I later change to collecting social security based on husbands income record, which is higher, when he is retirement age?
Thank you.

Hi,

No, you can't start out drawing retirement benefits on your own record and then subsequently switch to spousal benefits. You could, however, potentially start out drawing on your own record, and then receive additional spousal benefits when your husband starts drawing his benefits.

My husband will be 67 in November and will begin ss in Dec and will retire the end if Dec. I will be 65 in May 2018 and have not applied for ss, my benefits will only be $285 and my husbands will be$2,800.
What should I do to maximize my ss spousal benefits?

Hi,

My husband passed away in 2012 at the age of 61 ... i now am living of my husbands pension ..i also have been working since i was 16 and putting into Social security..i am now 65 and I retired after my husband passed away .. what i would like to know is this ....can i also go ahead and collect on my Social Security for all those years that i put into it .....and still collect on my husbands pension ? I worked very hard for all those years to not be able to collect on my Social Security that I Have contributed to ..
Thank You Sincerely Barbara

Hi Larry,

I'm 55 and the high PIA individual. I'd like to claim social security benefits at 70. My spouse is soon turning 66 and has a significantly lower PIA. Can my spouse claim retirement benefits at 66 and later, when I claim benefits at 70, switch to the much more attractive spousal benefits? I bought your very good book and thought I read that once you claim the retirement benefits you can't later switch to spousal benefits. The age difference seems to make spousal benefits from me out of reach or at least very difficult.

My husband and I both retired in 2014. At that time, we both "filed and suspended" our Social Security benefits, intending to begin benefits when we became 70. My husband was taking a spousal benefit. He passed away unexpectedly at the age of 68. If I am eligible, I would like to receive a widow's benefit and begin my own benefit (with delayed credits) when I become 70. However, Social Security is telling me I am not eligible, as my funds are considered "active." Am I eligible for a widow's benefit?

My husband died at 63 and 1 month old. He was collecting early retirement. I work 2 jobs and make about $56,000 a year. I just recently thought to check my W4 at my work. I had been married filing 1 exemption. I switched it to single 1 exemption. Now I net around $200 less a month. I feel like I lost my husband, his income and now it feels punitive. It feels like I'm being kicked while I'm down. I am turning 62 in Dec, but plan on working until I reach full retirement age of 66 & 2 mo's. Am I missing something, or is this just the way it is?

Hi,