I am halfway through the new revised edition of your book - and it appears I could have filed/suspended (but I bought the new book too late). Me, the higher wage earner, born in October 1949, has retired and NOT taken Social Security. The wife, born August 1951, with several zero years (raising a family) is now making over 100K, and her desire is to work for two possibly three more years. Any options for us other than both of us waiting until 70 to get full DRC's?

Second question - relating to your "caution" in the book; My actual DOB is the 1st, so if I read correctly, I am eligible on the 30th - and therefore my 1st "deposit" would indeed be in the month of my birthday? And you also state to put your desired payment start in the remarks - I have not seen sample/recommended verbage to put in the remarks section - would you clarify, please?

Hi,

Ideally, as you've now learned, you should have filed and suspended before the April 29th 2016 deadline, but that option is now gone. At the very least, your wife can receive spousal benefits on your record when you start drawing at age 70. She can then switch to her own account when she reaches age 70. Since you were born on October 1st 1949, Social Security will consider you to attain age 70 effective with the month of September 2019, so that's when you want to start your benefits. Your wife can also start her spousal benefits that month. Any spousal benefits she receives will not cause her own benefit amount to be reduced. And yes, Social Security payments for the month of September are issued in October.

You won't need to put anything in the remarks section of your application. You simply need to elect to start benefits effective with the month of September 2019. However, your wife's restricted application for spousal benefits only, which can be filed at the same time, should contain a remark such as: 'I wish to restrict the scope of this application to spousal benefits only.' or, 'I wish to restrict retirement benefits on my record from the scope of this application.' If she files online she should add the remark herself, but if she files in person or by phone, she will need to remind the Social Security claims rep to add the remark.

There are other potential filing options for you and your wife. For example, you could start drawing your benefits effective with the month she reaches full retirement age so that she can receive a full 4 years of spousal benefits before switching to her own account at age 70. However, that would reduce your monthly benefit amount by about 17% from the age 70 rate, and that lower rate would carry over to your wife's potential widow's benefit if you die first.

You may wish to consider running the maximization software available on this website in order to clarify all of your filing options.

Best, Jerry