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Filing Strategies

What Is Our Best Strategy?

My wife is almost 64 and 4 years older than me with an FRA of 66.5. My FRA is 67. I was going to wait until 70 to file. What is our best strategy? I’m the main earner. Thank you!

Hi. One possibility would be for your wife to apply for her benefits at full retirement age (FRA), and for you to file for your benefits at age 70. Whether or not that's a good plan, however, depends on your and your wife's comparative benefit rates.

Posted: 
Thursday, July 22, 2021 - 16:13

Can My Wife File For Her Benefits At Age 62 Then Half Of My Benefit Amount When She Reaches FRA?

Hi mister Larry . I have 3 questions:
1. If my wife gets early retirement benefits at age 62, and when I get Social Security benefits at age 70, will she be able to switch to my benefits? If yes, when I am will 70 yeas old, she will be 65 years old, can she wait to apply for half of my pension until she turns 67 to receive the maximum part of my pension?

Posted: 
Sunday, July 18, 2021 - 14:36

Is My Plan Legal And Acceptable?

Hi Larry, I am 64 yrs old, employeed and live in San Diego, California. My husband passed way in 2018 and was not collecting any Social Security Benefits. My full retirement age is 66 yrs old. Due to my health issues I would like to apply and claim my own Social Security Benefis next year at the age of 65. Then when I reach my full retirement age of 66 yrs old switch over to apply and claim my widows survivorship Social Security Benefits. Is this acceptable and a legal option. I would stop working full time at 65 yrs of age.

Posted: 
Saturday, July 17, 2021 - 09:40

How Can We Determine How Much My Husband's PIA Is?

My husband is 72 years old, and draws over $1300/month Social Security disability. He also receives a navy pension and VA disability. He began drawing SS at FRA. The SS disability payment listed is a net amount that is deposited monthly to his bank. How do we determine what his actual PI (is that the correct term?). I am 58 (dob 3/24/1963). My estimated SS at 67 is over $1700 and over $2000 at 70. He is in poor health, and should he predecede me, I don’t know what financial course to take in spite of reading your excellent advise to others.

Posted: 
Saturday, July 17, 2021 - 08:18

What Should We Do Now?

My husband date of birth is 07/30/1955 and we want to suspend his ss and he return to work on June 3rd , 2021, we both were out of work because of Covid-19, now I am unemployed and my DOB I am currently getting unemployment, what should we do now that he can get ss and what strategies is beneficial toward our situation, we both worked and can get our own SS when the time is right

Posted: 
Monday, July 12, 2021 - 18:33

If My Wife Files For Her Benefits Now At Age 63 Will Her Future Spousal Benefits Be Reduced?

My wife is 63. I am 60. If she starts collecting social security now, will her spousal benefits be reduced if I wait until I am 67 (full-retirement benefits) to start drawing social security? Or will her spousal benefit automatically increase to 50% of my full benefit?

Hi. If your wife starts drawing her benefits prior to full retirement age (FRA), she'll retain the resulting reduction for age even if she later becomes eligible for a spousal benefit.

Posted: 
Wednesday, July 7, 2021 - 10:07

What Are Your Recommendations?

I am a 62 year old female with health issues, and have always been in secretarial jobs that always paid low wage, should I file for social security retirement now. In consideration of the following my social security retirement amount would be $1100 per month it will be very difficult financially with $1100 per month. No savings, no 401k so it looks like I might have to continue working. I have been taking care of my Mom full time for the last 7 years she died of cancer in 2020. Now I am looking for work. What are your recommendations?

Posted: 
Thursday, July 1, 2021 - 12:49

Does My Strategy Seem Reasonable?

I am currently 64 years old. My question concerns the merits of waiting until Delayed Retirement at age 70 versus drawing SS at Full Retirement Age. In my case, FRA is 66 yrs 4 mos, at which point I would be eligible for $31,600 in yearly benefits. If I continue to work at my job -drawing a salary, and saving $25K per annum in my 401(k)- for another 44 months until my 70th birthday, then my yearly benefits will be $41,000 per year. I am currently in excellent health.

Posted: 
Monday, June 28, 2021 - 11:31
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