My wife is 63 and her SS benefit at age 63 (based on her work record) is about 613 dollars per month. I am 65 still working and my projected SS benefit at FRA is approximately 2600 dollars per month. Neither of us are currently drawing social security benefits. My question; can my wife start collecting (her work record benefits) of 613 dollars per month now and then switch/take advantage of the larger spousal benefits at the time I start collecting my own SS benefits? Thank you in advance for the information.

Hi,

I am 70 and drawing Socil Scurity. I stared about 3 mnths prior to turning 66. My wife is 64 and not drawing.
can she apply and draw from my Social Security,while leting hers grow until 70?

Hi,

Hi Larry,
My husband has earned far more than I have in our working life. He plans to file for SS at 70. I will be 62 at that time. We also have an adult child with a developmental disability who receives SSI. Will both our child and I be able to use my husband's work history to increase our individual benefits?

Hi,

I retired under CSRS from the Dept. of Agriculture. I worked in the private sector after that and have 14 years of significant earnings under Social Security. My wife is eligible for Social Security on her own work history, but my benefit would be higher. From what I have read, the survivor benefit is not subject to WEP. We are trying to figure out the best strategy for when each of us should start drawing Social Security. I will be 68 in Dec. and my wife just turned 60 in Sept.

I am 71 and retired. My wife is 64, and collects SSDI benefits. When my wife reaches FRA in 2018 (age 66), can she file a Restricted Applicatiion for 50% spousal benefits? Can her SSDI benefit, which convert to regular SS benefits at FRA, be suspended until age 70?

Hi,

My wife turns 66 in Jan 2017. I'm 66 in August 2017. Her spousal benefit is much (2X) larger than her normal benefit. If she takes her benefit I January, can she switch to spousal in August, or does she lose that right?

Hi,

Larry, I was married for 22 years and will be 66 in 2017, when my full SS pension benefit would be approx. $1800+/month. I hope to wait to claim it, however, until I am 70, in order to receive the maximum benefit. My ex-husband won't be 66 until 2019, when his full pension benefit would have been approx. $2400+/month. But last year he said he needed to take a reduced SS pension, which is says is approx. $1500-1600/month. Will that make it impossible to claim the spousal benefit when I turn 66...

I am 62 this year (2016). My husband passed away Dec. 1 2013. Can I receive Social Security based on his work history until I am 70 and then switch to my work history (allow SS to accumulate to full amount). I was told by a SS representative (by phone) that I could use his SS until I was 66 and then switch to mine. I am confused by this. I am still working and I do have other saving and a Simple IRA. I was told by a financial advisor to spend my accounts first and then switch to SS at 70.

Hi Larry-- Your books, Get What Yours and the Revised edition, are great resource tools. My husband died at 40 in 1992. We were both born in 1951, me in February him in August. I will turn 66 in February 2017 and plan to file for my widows benefits between 66 an 70. Since I was the higher earner, I plan to continue working until 70 thus increasing my own benefit by 32%. After reading your first book, I went to my local SS office to get an estimate of what this widow's benefit would be (since they won't provide you his actual earnings record) and they advised me about $1,700.

Hello Larry,

I’m trying to help out some friends. John turned 66 last month and his PIA is $2600. His wife, Mary, turns 62 this month and her PIA is $260. John wants to wait till 70 for delayed retirement credits.

I gave them the following advice: Mary files for her own benefit at 62 and John immediately claims his spousal benefit until he turns 70 at which time he claims his own benefit.. Then Mary claims a spousal benefit on Johns record.