Hello!

I have called and emailed the Social Security Administration on several occasions and get conflicting answers. Then I discovered, and have enjoyed reading your book, Get What’s Yours - Revised Edition. Yet, I still don’t clearly understand the answer to our situation.

My wife will be 62 soon (in July 2016). I am a year younger at 61.

I hear a lot of people talk about when they'll break even if they claim Social Security earlier than 70. How do you calculate when you'll "breakeven"? Thanks, Terry

Dear Larrry,
I am 60 years old, and will turn 62 in July 2017. I'm still working. My husband is 77, retired, and has been collecting his Social Security for several years now. Should I begin collecting my SS when I turn 62? I'm not planning on working past 62. And, if so, would I be able to "switch" to survivor benefits after that if my husband were to pass before me? Or, should I wait until I'm 66 years and 2 months? Or, is there a better option besides these two? Thank you!

I will be 66 in 14 months my wife of 20+ years died in 1991 can I collect her social security benefits and wait till I am 68 or 70 and collect mine and will it be a full check or part

Hi,

My husband started collecting SS at age 62 when he retired. He passed away at age 70 and 11 days.I will be 65 in Dec.and plan to collect on his SS or would it be better to collect on mine?

My question is when to take benefits as a widow with earnings of my own. My husband passed away in 2003 at age 51. He was receiving Soc. Security disability benefits at the time. He would have reached FRA May 2017(had 40 credits). I turned 60 last Oct. I earn avg. $18,000-$20,000 a year(have my 40 credits), but with very little retirement savings. Should I take my early retirement at 62 and continue to work and then switch to widow survivor benefits at 66? Or survivor benefits early then switch to my full retirement at 66 and 2 mo.

Here is a question I never see. I'm 58 and my wife is 63. ( it's always the man is older and primary bread winner ) In our case I've been the primary bread winner and my wife raised the kids and had a few part time jobs so her Social Security is minimal. My company recently sold and with it my job went away. Should she look to take her SS now and if she did that what would that mean to the future SS payments to her when I become eligible for SS and she can collect on my earnings. I'm currently looking for employment.

Hi Larry,

Hi, I am 55 will be 56 in October. My husband passed away in 2010 we were married for almost 6 years and have no dependents. I am working full time in a school district. My gross adjusted income in 2015 was 34,315. My husband was collecting full SS due to cancer. I have worked outside the school district throughout the years at times. When should I apply for survivor benefits? Thanks, Annette

Good day... any possible benefit to buying your program for a 70-year old who's been receiving benefits for almost eight years now?

thanks!

Forrest,
Unfortunately it's too late to increase your retirement benefit.

Best,
Mike