I just turned 66 and will reach full retirement age in 4 months, but I plan to continue working for the next three years. My current annual salary is the highest I've ever earned. I am trying to decide whether to claim benefits at full retirement age and let them grow due to my continued work, or whether to wait until age 70 to claim the maximum benefit. Will Maximize My Social Security allow me to make those calculations/comparisons?

Will this software provide results available for a 40 year old male who lost his 42 year old wife leaving newborn using spousal survivor benefits? If not, is there another service or site you can recommend?
Once the $40.00 is paid what is the active time of use for the site from the initial payment?

Does your MMSS software cover the following scenario? Paul and Sally are the same age and get married at age 55. Paul is a widower. When they are in their 60s, Paul and Sally decide to get a divorce, after which (1) Paul claims survivor benefits from his first wife and (2) Sally claims benefits from her own earnings. Some time later in their 60s, Paul and Sally get married again. They continue receiving their respective benefits until they turn 70, when Paul claims benefits from his own earnings and Sally claims spousal benefits.

Does the latest version of Maximize my Social Security include the planned COLA increase for next year?

thanks,
John

Hi John. Not yet, because the exact amount of next year's Social Security cost of living (COLA) increase hasn't yet been established. However, the software does allow you to enter projected future COLA increases that can be used in your benefit estimates.

Best, Jerry

Do you calculations in MaximizeMySocialSecurity take into account the time value of money, and, if so, what is the implicit interest rate assumption. A dollar received today is worth more than a dollar received in three years, especially in this era of higher inflation.

Hi. Yes, the software includes an option to include a presumed rate of inflation. The default amount is 2.25% per annum, but can be adjusted by the user.

If I purchase the software, will I be able to have my questions like the ones below answered through correspondence, in addition to what I am able to glean from the book and the software? I plan on beginning to collect Social Security at age 70. My birthday is March 12, 1953. So what date should I indicate as the date I would like to start collecting Social Security? And how far in advance should I apply for Social Security to begin receiving it at that time, meaning what date should I put in my application?

I am now 76. I retired at full retirement age and have been receiving Social Security. I am currently working and making hefty six figures. I want to figure out what salary to pay myself to absolutely maximize my Social Security benefits over the next 4 years (without cancelling it out by paying it all out in taxes now). Would you believe that Social Security told me they can't tell me the percentage they multiply the average of my top 35 earnings years by....and that "this is done manually and takes a long time to do"! Seriously! It's a mysterious process.

Does the SS benefits maximization software allow for choosing date of death scenarios for either spouse?

Hi. You can enter an expected year of death for each member of a couple, but not an exact future month or day of death. The software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) then runs the maximization scenarios accordingly.

Best, Jerry

Does your software take into account the rule passed in 2015? I sent you a question earlier. I am L and we did successfully apply and receive social security in #1 - 3. When I applied in #4 for spousal benefits after my husband applied for his on social security in #3, I was denied spousal benefits. His spousal benefits are about $50 more a month than my own benefits. I was denied spousal benefits they said because of the law passed in 2015. My finanacial planner and my accountant both think I should be getting spousal benefits and that the law doesn't apply to me.

Love the tool. Super helpful!

There's a big bump coming in SS payments coming in 2022. Have those been already included in your software or should I enter the 5.9% bump myself?

Thanks!

Hi. Yse, our software has been updated to include the 5.9% Social Security cost of living (COLA) increase. You do not need to add the COLA yourself.

Best, Jerry