After my wife and I reached FRA but before the new law took effect, I applied and suspended my benefits while my wife started receiving here spousal benefits. At 69 I retired from my job and "unsuspended" my benefits as they called it. I've realized we could get by a year without benefits and wish I hadn't started them. If I suspend again now it sounds like my wife would lose her benefits as long as mine were suspended. We might make that work. But at the same time--if I read your book correctly--it also sounds like they would permanently reduce her benefit dollar for dollar with the amount I gained by suspending. If so there would be no point. Is that correct?

Hi,

No, increases to your benefit amount that result from delayed retirement credits (DRC) would not cause your wife's monthly benefit rate to be reduced. If you suspend your benefits again before age 70, your wife's benefit rate would be unaffected, but neither of you would receive benefits from your account while your benefits are in suspense. So, when your benefits resume at age 70, or earlier if you elect to reinstate them sooner, your benefit amount would be increased due to the additional DRCs, but your wife's benefits would resume at the same rate they were before the suspension, except for any intervening cost of living increases. She would, however, potentially benefit from your additional DRCs in the form of a higher widow's benefit if you die first.

Note, that you can't suspend benefits retroactively. The soonest that you can voluntarily suspend your benefit is the month following the month of your suspension request.

Best, Jerry