I am going to be 66 in late January 2018. I am not subject to the "deeming" rule since I was 62 before 1-2-16. I was thinking of filing for my OWN SS benefits at FRA in January of 2018. However, they are very low since I didn't earn much money over my working life. They will be about 559 dollars a month. My husband will be 66 (FRA) in June of 2018. He will then file for his benefit which will be about 2569.00 a month. I will already be 66 (my FRA) by then. Is there any benefit in my filing for his spousal benefit in JUNE, when he files, ( it would be 1284.50 a month for me, opposed to 559.00 of my own retirement benefit.) Is it true I wouldn't have to file for my own until age 70 at that point since I am not under the deeming rule? And even if I would be making 782.00 a month by waiting until I am 70, it would still be LESS THAN 1284.50 I would get as a spousal benefit! My question is, IS THERE ANY BENEFIT IN ME DELAYING MY FILING , OR SHOULD I FILE FOR MY OWN AT FRA AND COLLECT IT FOR A FEW MONTHS BEFORE FILING FOR THE EXCESS SPOUSAL BENEFIT WHEN MY HUSBAND FILES FOR HIS IN JUNE?

Hi,

Yes, it sounds like you should file on your own record at age 66 and then file for an excess spousal benefit on your husband's record when he starts drawing his benefits. There almost certainly wouldn't be any reason to wait past age 66 to start drawing your retirement benefits since your spousal rate would exceed your own rate even if you waited until age 70 to start drawing on you own record.

An alternative strategy to consider would be for your husband to file just for spousal benefits only on your record when he reaches FRA and then switch to his own record at age 70. That would provide him with a 32% higher benefit rate for as long as he lives beyond age 70, and would also provide you with a 32% higher widow's rate should he die first.

You and your husband should strongly consider using the maximization software available on this website to compare all of your options and determine your best overall strategy.

Best, Jerry