Dr. Kotlikoff - While I read the prior edition of your book and purchased numerous copies for give-aways to friends, I have not yet obtained the updated edition. My question is personal to my situation. In August 2016 I will turn 62. Although now divorced, I was married for over ten years and have not remarried. My plan was to defer taking SSA benefits using the following strategy: at 66 take the spousal share from my former spouse, then at 70 take my own "full" share. Knowing you cannot predict four years ahead, is that strategy still available currently? Thanks!

Hi, My wife and I read your various columns, thought we understood and scheduled an appointment with the local Social Security office to initiate File and Suspend for her plus Spousal Benefits for me, as a representative told us we could do in agreement with your advice. (By way of factual background, our appointment took place when my wife was already over 65, and I was just a few months short of this birthday.

Ref: "...did not file and suspend by the April deadline, I recommend you file for your retirement benefit and suspend your benefit now, but request the dates for both of these requests be deemed to be the date on which you would otherwise have filed and suspended had you not been misinformed," 3Jul 16 article.

My husband is 69 and I am 59. We are both still working, however his salary in 2015 was the highest to date and will taper off in the next five years. Should he file for retirement benefits now? Will the percentage change in benefits will be large enough to warrant postponing for another year. Also, it is my understanding that the optimal time for me to file for spousal benefits is when I hit my FRA since I was born after 1954 and postpone my own retirement benefits or will I have been deemed to file for my own retirement benefits if I file for spousal benefits?

My husband is 66 years old and I will be 66 years old on July 13, 2016. We have not yet filed for our social security benefits.. My huband can collect $2366./mth. and I can collect $1743./mth. On July 13th, (my 66th birthday) I would like to apply for my benfits($1743.) and my husband would like to apply for spousal benefits (1/2 of mine =$871.50) and let his benefits grow until age 70. This strategy, I believe, is called a restricted application. We meet all the criteria for this strategy which is having been born before 12/31/53 and never having applied for benefits.

I was born on Dec. 25, 1950. My divorced spouse, to whom I was married for more than 10 years, was born on May 8, 1954. I have not remarried. I just came from my local SSA office, and the agent I met with told me that I am NOT eligable to take divorced spouse benefits this December, because of the new rules put in place by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. I think he is wrong, and your Maximize My Social Security software, of which I am a subscriber seems to agree with me. Can you help me? What should I do?

I missed some of the info about the new social security changes, and my question is this. I am currentlly 59, born in 1956. My wife if 18years is only 42 at this time. I have always been the higher earner as of right now. Will the new law changes affect her being able to recieve any widow's benefits or spousal benefits if I should pass before she turns 55?

Hi,

Does your software take into account the new law - As of 4/30/16, this method will mean that someone who suspends his Social Security benefits is treated as suspending all associated Social Security benefits, including his spouse. This eliminates the file and suspend strategy as a means of maximizing benefits for married couples. - See more at: http://www.360financialliteracy.org/Topics/Retirement-Planning/Social-Se...