Ask Larry

Filing Strategies

What Is The Best Strategy In Our Case?

My husband lost his job December 2014 at 61 yrs old and was diagnosed with major depression and schizoid personality disorder (he was a software engineer) and has been unable to find work, finally giving up. My daughter turned 14 yesterday. I work full time as an accounting auditor. We bought your software and did the calculations and then they changed the SS laws. We got your new book and read it, but feel our situation is too complex to make a decision that will last a lifetime on our own.

Posted: 
Friday, January 20, 2017 - 06:30

Should My Wife File For Spousal Benefits Only At Age 66?

Larry,
I am 68, DOB 8/22/48. I filed and suspended at age 66. My wife will be 66 in March and has not filed. As I understand our situation. She should file for Spousal benefits only at 66 and we both wait until 70 to collect full benefits ?
Thanks

Hi,

Yes, that certainly sounds like the best strategy in your case. You may still want to run the maximization software available on this website in order to be sure.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Thursday, January 19, 2017 - 07:45

How Can I Increase My Social Security Benefit Rate?

How can I increase my SS payments now? I am 65 in 2016 and want to retire at 66, next year.
Can I prepay additional dollars to Social Security? Right now if I retire next year at 66yr my monthly payment would be $2,030.00/month
I am still working , make $60K this year. Divorced, after 20yrs, ex husband died in 1997, no small children.

How much can I make and not effect my social security next year , if I start SS payments?

Hi,

Posted: 
Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - 16:30

What Benefits Can I Receive?

I will be 62 in June 2017. I was married to a man for over ten years then divorced and now he is 69 yrs collecting his soc sec benefits. Later remarried a man 11 yrs younger who is now 51 and active duty. We were married over 10 years and we are divorced. After I turned 61 yrs I remarried an African man who has two children now my step-children. I am 29 yrs older than my current husband. I need to know what all I am entitled to with soc sec. Am I able to draw off of my of my first husband? Am I entitled to anything with my second husband?

Posted: 
Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - 07:00

Does My Plan Make Sense?

I am a widow (DOB 3/11/53) who is still working earning $40,000 per year. I intend to continue working until age 66. My current PIA est. is $1,131/mo. and at age 66 is $1,307/mo.. My husband (ten years older) died at age 60. My est. Widow PIA today is $1,551/mo. and at age 66 is $1,340/mo.(less?). I have been told to start benefits today based on my earnings PIA subject to the earnings test and then at age 66 (3/2019) switch to my survivor's benefits. Does that make sense?

Hi,

Posted: 
Tuesday, January 17, 2017 - 15:15

What Is Our Best Option?

Hi Larry,
I will be 66 July 2017...my wife will be 64 Oct 2017. We both have worked all our adult lives. My original plan was to retire at 67 Oct 2018 when my wife reaches 65 and Medicare benefits eligible (she is self employed and is on my benefit plan). At this time, Oct 2018, my wife would file for her benefits and I would file a restricted application, file for spousal benefits and then take my own benefit at age 70.

Posted: 
Monday, January 16, 2017 - 06:15

Can I Still File For Spousal Benefits Only At Age 66?

My husband born in 1948 filed and suspended before the April 29, 2016 deadline and plans on waiting until age 70 to collect his social sec benefits .
I the spouse turn 66 in April 2017 . Can I file for my own benefit in April and subsequently my husband file a spousal on me and then when he reaches 70 i he takes his own benefit, and then I switch to his spousal benefit ? I was told i could do this as WE were grandfathered into the old rules ??

Hi,

Posted: 
Saturday, January 14, 2017 - 07:00
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.