I was married for 24 years, divorced for 14 years, and still unmarried. Both my ex spouse & I will be 66 years old, reaching full retirement age by December 2016 when I plan to file. I understand that since I was at least 62 years old at the time of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, I am 'grandfathered' with respect to filing for divorced spouse benefits. However, my question is, can I file a restricted application on his record for 50% of his benefit (delaying by benefit until age 70) if 1) my benefit is greater than his, and/or 2) my benefit is more than 50% of his.

I'm 62, never-married & childless. My annuity & pension will provide quite comfortably past age 100. I planned to wait till 70 to start Social Security, then use it to fund a nest egg to leave my nieces and nephews. Would starting SS earlier & investing it be a better strategy? Many thanks for your time and expertise!

Hi,

I turn 66 in August of 2017--my wife turns 66 also in August 2017, I was planning on drawing my SS in August and have my wife file for the spousal benefit and draw it until age 70--we both plan on working another 3 to 4 years. Should/can I start drawing my SS in January 2017 and not affect my SS draw at age 66 - by end of June 2017 my income would be close to 40K. Does this make sense?
Thank you!

Hi,

My approximate benefit at age 66 is $2500 a month and my wife's benefit at age 66 is $1200. We are 5 week apart in age. Can we not take my benefit and take hers. If we do that would I receive about 50% less or approx. $600 from hers as her spouse. This way I could let my benefit increase until age 70 so that she would have a greater benefit if I preceeded her in death. I know the rules have changed on this . Thanks.

Hi,

My wife will collect Soc Security @ FRA in September 2016. I reach FRA in October of 2016. Under the new rules, Can I still apply for a spousal benefit and delay applying for my own FRA benefit until age 70? Thank you.

Hi,

Yes, you can. The new law (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/deemedfaq.html) that blocks this filing strategy only applies to people born after January 1 1954.

Best, Jerry

HI Larry - I turn 66 Sept 2016. I am still working. My husband is retired and taking SS since he was 62 - he is now 72. I "think" I understand your advice regarding maximizing our social security. I should file for spousal benefits and keep working until I am 70. My husband has been ill, and I cannot stop working. Does this mean I do NOT apply for deferral -? And should I run to the SS office first thing next week - my this IS confusing.
Thank you,
Pamela

Hi Pamela,

Hi, I turned 66 Aug. 4, 2016, My husband will be 66 Jan. 11, 2017. He is planning on working until age 70. I am not working. We had planned on the file and suspend for both of us andthat I would apply for spousal benefits, which I was about to do but I may have missed the deadline, based on new rules. Should I go and file and suspend anyway? Thank you for any information you can give me. Pam

Hi Pam,

Hi Larry

My husband passed away about 7 years ago; he made considerably more money than I did. I will be 60 years old next year, work as an executive assistant, and plan on working for 10 more years, hopefully! Can I claim my late husband's social security when I turn 60 and then mine when I turn 70? I am healthy and don't have any plans on retiring anytime soon! The women in my family usually last for a very long time! My grandmother lived until she was 104 and my mother is 87 and still going strong.

Thank you

Hi,

I am 64 and was married for 14 years and divorced in 1995. My ex is still working and is 63. Can I file for my ex's social security now? And then file for my full SS at 66.

Hi,

No, if you file for divorced spousal benefits before your full retirement age of 66, you'll also be deemed to have applied for reduced retirement benefits on your own account. That would result in both benefits being permanently reduced.

I am 69 (Oct 14, 1946) and just applied for the max SSI ($3200). I was given the opportunity to take a 6 month check of about $18,900 or wait until I turn 70 in October and get about $3150 per month. I took the $18,900.