Ask Larry

Filing Strategies

Should I Go Ahead And Start Collecting Benefits For My Son Now?

I just turned 62 and have paid into SS for 40 years.
I am legally married to a Lao citizen and we have a 8 yr old son together.
My son is an US citizen w/ passport and SS number.
We live in Laos for the winter months and Wa. state during the summer.
I recently applied for SS and was informed that my wife will not receive any benefits under my work record because she is not a US citizen nor does she have a green card.

Posted: 
Monday, March 20, 2023 - 12:48

When Would Be The Best Time For My Wife To Take Her SS?

I'll turn 70 in May 2023 and have recently submitted my application to take my SS at that time My FRA was 66. I worked 32 years for IBM, and 30 years as an officer in the U.S. Army & Army Reserve, plus several minimal jobs throughout my high school and college days. My SS payout will be substantially larger than my wife's, as she only worked 15 years, then stayed home after our children started arriving. She is 9 years younger than me (currently age 60), with an FRA of 67.

Posted: 
Monday, March 6, 2023 - 20:29

Can I File Now To Start My Benefits In May?

Hi Larry. I am approaching 70 YOA in July, 2023. As I was born prior to Jan 1, 1954 I have been receiving half my husband's FRA benefit after he filed a few months after his FRA. He was also born prior to Jan 1, 1954. I'm very concerned about the current debt ceiling stalemate in Congress and I'm thinking of filing to receive benefits starting in May rather than July. Sort of getting my request on the record before they start cutting benefits. Can I file now in March to start in May? Do you thing this is a good idea? It would only cost be about $350 annually. Thanks very much.

Posted: 
Monday, March 6, 2023 - 15:41

Should I Switch Over To Ex-Spousal Benefits Or Stay With My Own Benefits?

I’m am 70 and still teaching in California
I am collecting social security from my own earnings about $1,200 a month.
My ex husband recently died and I am told I can get his social security about $2,000. Month.
I’m planning on retiring in 1 or 2 years.
I’m confused about Windfall and Gop

Posted: 
Thursday, February 23, 2023 - 16:11

Is Our Plan Sound And Viable?

My wife and I were both born in 1957 and remain married. She is a few months older than I am. After having read your book (the revised Getting What's Yours), we planned to initiate her retirement benefit at her FRA later this year, and wait to initiate my benefit and her excess spousal benefit when I turn 70 (her FRA benefit is only a few dollars more than her spousal benefit). However, in re-reading the book, I became concerned about the viability of this strategy. On p.

Posted: 
Saturday, February 18, 2023 - 10:41

Would The Benefit Increase I Receive By Waiting Until Age 70 Be Enough To Offset What I Could Receive By Filing Sooner?

I am 68 years old in July of this year. I am contemplating filing for retirement benefits at that time, and then reducing my hours working to quarter-time. Would it be best to wait and file until I am age 70, or would it be more beneficial continue working. I realize that if I continue working, in addition to collecting social security, my benefits will rise in the future if those wages are one of my highest 35. I want to know, if I do that, will my benefits rise enough to equal what I would collect if I wait until age 70 to file?

Posted: 
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 - 15:29

Would You Recommend Any Options For Me And My Wife Other Than Waiting Until Age 70 To Apply?

I recently finished reading your book :Get What's Yours". I am married, my wife is 58 and I am 50. My wife plans to retire in 5 years at 63 and I plan to retire in 15 years at 65. I make about 50-75% more than my wife. It sounds like our best option to get what's ours for claiming social security is to wait until we are both 70 before we start collecting. Are there any other options you would recommend?

Posted: 
Sunday, February 5, 2023 - 17:10

Did We Leave Money On The Ground?

Did we leave money on the ground?

I started drawing at age 68, when my wife was nearly 64. We did not claim spousal benefits. My wife continued to work, and reached full retirement age today, 30 months later. My wife's survivor benefit will exceed benefits on her own record. I estimate that had we claimed spousal benefits, they would have been reduced to 40% due to claiming before full retirement age. Her spousal benefit at FRA would have been $1,500. Benefits on her own account will be $1,750 at FRA, and she will now draw that until elegible for survivor benefits.

Posted: 
Wednesday, February 1, 2023 - 17:08
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.