I just turned 68 and my wife just turned 65, both having turned 62 before 1/1/16 and both having had careers in non-profits. I was going to wait until 70 to take my benefits and my wife take hers at 67 - she wants to retire as soon as it makes sense - but after reading “the book”, I’m thinking it might be smarter to take my benefits a yr earlier at 69 and have my wife take spousal benefits at 66 and then she’d take her own benefits at 70. (From what we can figure out

My friend is on SSDI and is 62 years old. Her husband is deceased and would be 69 years of age, if alive. At what point would she switch from SSDI and begin taking her spousal benefit?
thanks

Hi,

Hi Larry,

My question concerns filing strategies for a remarried widow. The widow is 60 years old and will get remarried at age 61. Her plan had been to file on her own record at age 62 and switch to her deceased husband's benefits at FRA (his benefit is about triple her benefit). Her new husband is already collecting benefits, and his FRA benefit is more than twice her benefit. Can she collect a spousal at age 62 based on her new husband's benefit, and then switch to the widow benefit at FRA? Thank you.

Hi,

My husband who had taken early retirement died last year. I just turned 60 and work full time so would lose widow benefits to the earnings test. I make more than my husband did and will take my retirement at 70. SSA tells me there is no advantage to filing for widow benefits until I stop working. I plan to quit at 65. Are they correct? I read our example about Glenn Loury in your book and it implies I should file now even if i don’t get anything. Thank you

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

My wife filed and suspended social security at age 66. I filed for spousal on her filing and am receiving spousal but am still planning on working to age 70. Someone tried to file on my Social security and after contacting social security before it went through, they have effectively blocked access to the social security web site to do any calculations. we both want to start drawing when we turn 70 my wife in 2 years and myself in 3 years .

I have not taken my SS yet. I am 65 born in 1953, wife 64. She doesn't have 40 credits to claim her own SS. I want to delay claiming as long as I can so I can get a higher payment. Am I eligible for a restricted application where we can claim wife's spousal benefit now and claim mine in future? If this is doable, would the spousal benefit now be based on my present age? Will the spousal benefit be increased to 1/2 my benefit whatever that is, when I start my payments in future?

Hi,

My husband will turn 67 in November and i will be 66 in April of next year and might apply for spousal then. I'm wondering if he should apply for retirement benefits before the end of the year. In other words, is there any beneficial reason to file in Oct., Nov, or Dec. as opposed to Jan. 1, 2019? Maybe something having to do with DRC's or the hold harmless rule? BTW, I'm assuming we won't be held harmless anymore after we're on social security. Is this true?

Hi,

I will turn 66 in MARCH 2019 and my wife will turn 66 in August 2019. I have heard that at FRA we can file a restricted application only and collect spousal benefits until age 70 while our regular benefit continues to grow until age 70. Can both of us file a restricted application and if so when, or can only one spouse do this. We were both born in 1953. What would give us the most extra spousal benefit since we are still eligible for doing this. Your calculator keeps recomending us both delay filing until age 70 which may not be feasible.

My wife turns 62 in Sep 18. I turn 66 in Feb 19. I'm planning to start collecting SSN when I turn 66 (my FRA). My SSN will be approx $30K/yr, my wife's will be approx $8.4K/year (at 62). We were thinking of having her file for her benefits when she turns 62 in Sep 18, then I start my FRA benefits in Feb 19. Then in Jan 2023 (her FRA), have her file for my benefits. Is that the best scenario in our case? Thanks for any advice!

Hi,