Filing Strategies

Larry
I filed and suspended 4 years ago when I was 66 before the deadline. My wife was 62 at the time. I will be turning 70 in July and I will start drawing my benefit. Is there anything I should be aware of before I take my first payment Iin August? Could I have done a spousal benefit from my wife’s social security benefit? She had a small work history but will have a bigger SS benefit drawing 1/2 of mine when she turns 66 in June.

Hi,

Dear Larry,

I have your book “Get What’s Yours”and have read it multiple times, underlined it, made notations in the back, and tabbed the pages with sticky notes. And currently I’m reading sections of it again. I also purchased and used the Maximize My Social Security software and I have also purchased the Maxifi Planner.

I am turning 65 this year. My husband is 81 and has a small soc.sec. income; about equal to mine.
He also worked for the city school system and gets a pension from there, and both of our medical
and dental and now medicare benefits are paid via his ss account.
The city's Health service is after me to decide by May 30th about taking s.s. and at what age.
I need to do this, or else I will be dropped they say from the city's portion of coverage of our
health coverage/ and/or medicare.

Dear Larry;
I am currently coming up on my 62nd birthday and selected three options for drawing my Social Security. I was hoping you could help provide the best option money wise. Please note that I retired 12/18/18.

Option 1) Draw in July at age 62 – July 2019
Option 2) Draw at age 62 ½ - Jan 2020 - (my wife will be 65 in September of this year)
Option 3) Wait until my wife is 66 – Sept 2020 (her full retirement age maxing out on the spousal benefit)

My wife is 63. I am 64. I plan on taking my SS benefit at full retirement age. My benefit is substantially higher than my wife. If she collects her benefit at 63, will it substantially reduce her spousal benefit when I start collecting at my Full retirement age?

Hi,

I don't know what you'd consider to be substantial, but filing at age 63 would reduce your wife's benefit rate even if she later qualifies for additional spousal benefits on your record.

My husband and I both were 66 in January 2019. I am retired and started collecting my full Social Security benefit in January. My husband is still employed and wants to continue working until 70 or longer.. He wants to collet his maximum Social Security benefit at 70. We were told that since I started collecting my SS that my husband could get spousal benefits on my SS at 50%. This would not change the amount due to my husband at age 70 on his SS benefit if he gets spousal benefits on my Social security.

My husband began taking SS at age 62 in 2005 for $1562 per month. I will be 67 in May 2019 and am a high wage earner so my benefit would be $3202 at age 67 I beleive. Can he change his benefit to a spousal draw if I file and suspend so I don't draw until age 70?

Hi,

I will be 62 later this year and am retired. My husband who is 59 is currently receiving SSDI and his benefit amount is close to what his FRA benefit amount would be. We have enough money to live on and both have IRAs, liquid cash, and I receive a pension in the form of a monthly annuity. Should I take early SSI benefits or wait until my FRA or age 70?

Hi,

Hi,

Hi Larry,