Ask Larry

Filing Strategies

Can I File Just For Spousal Benefits At FRA And Let My Own Benefit Rate Grow Until Age 70?

My wife and I both reach our FRA in July 2018. My salary has been higher. Is it possible for for her to file at her FRA and for me to file for spousal benefits or a restricted application and get 1/2 of hers while mine grows until I am 70 years old? (Or is this a no-no because of deeming?)
Thanks - Fred

Hi Fred,

Posted: 
Tuesday, June 20, 2017 - 07:16

Can I Still Get Just A Spousal Benefit And Wait Until Age 70 To Draw My Benefits?

Hey Larry. I am 66 today and am going to retire 7/29. I am planning on waiting until 70 to draw my social security My wife will be 62 7/21 and is planning to retire from post office in November. She was planning on starting her ss on 1/1/18. Can I still get just a spousal benefit and wait until 70 to draw mine. Thanks

Hi,

Posted: 
Monday, June 19, 2017 - 07:53

Should I Start Drawing Now?

My husband Matt passed away 3/2013 at 57 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and lived for 4 months. Matt worked all his life . Life is more difficult with just one income. I am an LPN and really have no desire to quit. It is my sanity. I have worked for 40 plus years. Matts Income was always much more than mine. I just am so confused as to whether to start taking his first or mine when I do decide to retire. Should I start now ? I am 62 will be 63 in January 2018.As I said I am doing ok. My credit thank goodness is excellent 786. No real credit card debt.

Posted: 
Saturday, June 10, 2017 - 14:47

Who Is Correct?

My husband passed away in December of 2014 (I had turned 60 in August of that year). I visited the social security office to complete the requisite filings. I was advised about the reduction based on age and the earnings cap. Since I was employed as a teacher, the amount of benefit would have been marginally above zero at the time. I was further advised that the amount of my benefit would increase along with my age and that any point I could file for the benefit. I was further advised that I could switch to my own in the future if that benefit was higher.

Posted: 
Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - 07:16

Can I File For My Benefits At 62 & 1/2 And Wait To File For Survivor Benefits At FRA?

I purchased your social security software but have not been able to figure out how to create the following scenario since my husband is not actually receiving SSDI yet. I turned 62 in May 2017. My husband will be 65 in Jan 2018 and was planning to retire then, but he became disabled with terminal cancer in Feb 2017. He just began receiving long term disability benefits in May and will be required by the LTD insurance carrier to file for SSDI in the next several months. I am planning to retire in Dec 2017 to be able to better care for him in the final stages of his life.

Posted: 
Saturday, June 3, 2017 - 09:39

Can My Wife And I File For Spousal Benefits Only?

I am 68, and my wife is 67. We have both qualified for SS benefits, but have not started receiving them yet. We missed the file-and-suspend deadline by one month because my wife reached FRA on May 31, 2016 (a month after the deadline). Could we, however, file a restricted application to begin receiving interim benefits as we await full benefits when we each turn 70?

Hi,

Posted: 
Saturday, June 3, 2017 - 07:08

Should My Husband File For Benefits Now So That Our Daughter Can Get Benefits?

Our situation is unusual in that we have a 16 year old still at home and my husband reached FRA of 66 on May 6 (born in 1951). We believe he can file and receive benefits for both himself and our daughter until her 18th birthday in July of 2019. At that time, he plans to suspend since daughter will no longer be eligible for benefits. Will his benefit continue to earn delayed retirement credits when he suspends? Wife was born Oct. 1957, so will be 62 before husband turns 70.

Posted: 
Friday, June 2, 2017 - 06:43

What Is The Best Filing Strategy For Our Family?

Larry, I am 57-year-old married Army retiree receiving a full Army retirement and a VA disability. I have twin fully disabled sons as my wards who live with us and each receives SSI with a slight offset as a VA 'helpless' child designation. They will never be able to work. My 55-year old wife has worked full-time for more than 40 quarters but quit full-time work 10 years ago to take care our disabled sons. She currently works part-time. We both are healthy and I plan to work past 70 (I'm an online adjunct professor).

Posted: 
Thursday, June 1, 2017 - 09:18
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.