I was widowed in Nov 2016. I am 61 years old. I was advised to file at age 62 under my living ex-spouse's benefits, which are higher than my earnings, and then switch to my deceased husband's bebefits when I turn 62 in order to be able to get 100% of his benefits, which are highest of all. I do have some funds to supplement my income until that time. Is this a permissible strategy? My approved upcoming benefits statement classify me as retired. Will I then file as a survivor or widow at age 66 for my deceased husband's benefits?

Hi,

My FRA is January 2017; my wife's FRA is February 2017. My benefit is about 6 times as large as my wife's benefit. She is not working and will not work in the future. I will work until 2021. Is there an obvious strategy, given the closing of the file and suspend "loophole"?

Hi,

I applied for SS. My husband will do the restricted spousal benefit until he is 70. I will continue to work (I am 64) and will try to knock out some my lower earning years and hopefully increase my benefits. How in the world does SS keep track of all these different scenarios that I read about in your column- and upgrade your benefits as they occur??

Hi,

In a word, computers. Most calculations and recomputations are automated now, which makes things much easier.

Hi Larry, I am 71 and my wife is 64. Both are retired. I started taking Soc Sec at my FRA, 66. We plan to have her delay taking her own benefit until she reaches age 70.
If my wife, at age 64, filed for a spousal benefit now based on my record, I understand that she would get a reduced amount because she has not reached FRA. BUT, when she reaches age 70 and switches to her own benefit, will that early-draw penalty apply to her own earnings benefit? Thank you, Joe

Hi Joe,

I will be 66 in March. I plan to continue working for at least 5 more years. My husband died in 2011 at the age of 65, he had started receiving his SS at age 62. At the time of his death I was 60 and working. the SS representative told me I could not collect widow's benefits because "I made to much". My question now is should I apply for my retirement or his and save mine until I turn 70? Also is there a time frame to apply?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I turn 66 in April which would be my full retirement age, and I am taking my deceased spouse's benefits, but when I called Social Security, I was advised that I should take my benefits now, plus I am still working. I thought I had to wait until April to take my full benefits.

Hi,

You would have to wait until April to receive your full rate. If you switch to your own record 3 months earlier than that, your benefit rate will be permanently reduced by roughly 1.67%.

I was told by a social security agent that when I turn 66 ( I am 65 now) I could receive half of my husbands benefits and then when I turn 70 I would receive my full benefits. Correct? Is this my best choice?

Hi,

Hi Larry, my husband passed 2013 and was receiving disability benefits for 1 yr. I am 59 yrs old and was told that when I turn 60 I could draw my husband's benefits and still work. I plan on working for 10 more yrs. My question is can I draw all his benefits and continue to work? I also was told that if I wait until retirement age that his benefits would be much higher and i would receive a much bigger benefit. Please advise.

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

I am 64 years old and was laid off from my position as Advertising Manager in August. In order to survive this past November I filed for SS Retirement - which, as we know is considerably less than what it would have been had I waited until 66 or later.

I am a an American citizen married to a Canadian man. I worked and live in the U.S. until the age of 32 when I moved to Canada. I have retained U.S. citizenship and have filed annual income tax returns in the U.S. (as well as Canada). I am age 57 and fully retired. My husband is also retired. We have one daughter (age 20) who is currently attending university in Canada. We have sufficient savings to live comfortably for the foreseeable future. When (at what age) should I consider applying to receive Social Security from the U.S. and how can I maximize the amount paid?