Ask Larry

What Should I Do To Maximize My Spousal Benefits?

My husband will be 67 in November and will begin ss in Dec and will retire the end if Dec. I will be 65 in May 2018 and have not applied for ss, my benefits will only be $285 and my husbands will be$2,800.
What should I do to maximize my ss spousal benefits?

Hi,

To receive your highest possible monthly benefit rate, you would want to apply for both retirement and spousal benefits at your full retirement age of 66. Or, you could just file for spousal benefits only at that time. Either way, you would end up getting a benefit rate equal to 50% of your husband's full retirement age rate (PIA).

However, you and your husband have many alternative filing options available to you that may be more optimal. You should strongly consider using the maximization software available on this website in order to explore all of your options and help you decide on your best overall strategy.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Oct 31 2017 - 10:13am
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.