Wife & husband both 50 years old and still married, both veterans. He served from 1985 through 1989, she served through 1987 through 1992.
Husband has applied for military service connected disability, receives a PERS medical retirement pension due inability to perform job from brain surgery side effects. (worked 1989 through 2004) (he receives permission from them to work every year-so there are no secrets), and is currently working in the civilian sector where he does pay social security and has maxed out his 401k.
Wife receives service connected disability, has a FERS pension available to collect on when she is ready to retire, has paid into social security. She is currently trying to obtain a position where she receives a PERS pension also.
She stayed home with the kids from 1992 through 2008 then went to work full time, prior to that there were a few part time jobs but primarily minimum wage.
She has received a EEO settlement from the Department of Veterans Affairs for descrimination so they will be maxing out a Roth IRA, and should we pay anything into social security with this money to help maximize our benefits later?
What is the best way to maximize our social security benefits when we are able to retire.

Hi,

I can't answer your question without more information on your potential Social Security benefit rates. You may want to consider running the maximization software available on this website, and you may benefit from using our new MaxiFi Planner. For more information on MaxiFi, click on the help & info popup on this page.

With regard to your question about paying Social Security taxes on the settlement your wife received, it is unlikely that the settlement proceeds would be subject to Social Security taxes. Only wages and self-employment earnings are subject to Social Security taxes, and you can't voluntarily pay Social Security taxes on other sources of income.

Best, Jerry