Should I collect SS widow pay or my own SS benefit and still work until 67? My husband died about 5 years ago when I was 60. I’m now 65. What is the best strategy for me to collect my maximum benefits? I want to travel and enjoy the rest of my life while I still can and still be able to pay my bills. My bills include school loans ($300) rent $1,500, food, auto maintenance, clothes, cell phone, utilities.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I am 74 yo and my wife will be 62 12/17/19. To maximize her social security benefit should she start taking 1/2020?
Thank you,
Matthew

Hi Matthew,

My husband and I are retiring in 2 years. I will be 62 and he will be 57. My husband is the high wage earner now making $135,00 annually while my wages are $25,000. We have saved enough to live on for 8 years so don't need to draw on social security. With our age difference when would it be best for each of us to start drawing on social security and when should we begin to do that and how? What about spousal benefits?

Hi,

I turn 66 (my FRA) in November. My wife turns 66 in December (her FRA). She has been receiving a modest monthly Social Security monthly benefit since age 62. We have a meeting scheduled at the local SSA office soon and I am seriously considering applying for my SS at FRA and my wife would get a boost since her amount is less than 35% of my currently estimated benefit. Can you help me determine whether this decision is the best for me or should I consider others (e.g. waiting until age 70 to get DRCs). Thank you!

Hi,

Dear Larry: My wife and I were born before Jan. 1, 1954. I am 67, she is 68. Neither of us have claimed social security benefits yet. We currently live off my pension from my job. We both also still work a bit yet and earn a small income per year. She and I both have enough credits to qualify for SS. Currently I have an estimated SS benefit of around 2,000 per month and my wife around 300 per month. My question is: Is it worth it for us to claim a file and restrict benefit now or just wait until we decide to claims SS benefits (mine and spousal) on or before age 70?

My wife is 67 and filed on her own record at full retirement age (66) with a benefit of $1438. I worked in England and am receiving $875 per month state pension (English version of social security) That figure is based on contributions from my English wages and also a voluntary contribution to raise my earning years from 24 to 35 years so I could received the maximum amount. . I also qualify for an Irish State pension (social security) of $485 per month based on contributions there and totalization with my England and USA record.

I am a surviving widower of a veteran and calpers and social security contributor. with dependents. how can I maximize my benefits?

Hi,

Based on what I’ve learned from your book, “Get What’s Yours, The Revised Secrets to Maxing out Your Social Security”, I believe I’ve developed a plan for myself and my wife to follow that will enable us to achieve what your book’s title suggests. I would appreciate your review of this four step plan to provide advice in three areas:
1. Is the plan doable? Do current Social Security rules allow for each of the four steps?

I am 62 and currently receiveing SSD of 1241, wife is 61 nand was considering filing for SSI at 62 in March. Is this a good idea and whAt is this partial SS off my benefits? Could she get that?

Hi,

By SSI, I assume you're referring to Social Security Insurance and not Supplemental Security Income, the latter of which is a needs based benefit administered by Social Security for individuals who are disabled, blind or age 65 or older.

Background:

Husband, (Civil Engineer), will turn 66 in September,2019. He plans to continue to work until age 70 to maximize his Social Security benefits.

Wife, (former legal secretary). will turn 66 in December, 2019. She has been on disability (for blindness) for 22 years. but did work for more than
80 quarters prior to disability.

Plan:

Wife's disability will automatically convert to Social Security at age 66 in December, 2019. She draws $1,568/month.