Hello,
I'm 68 1/2 and called SS today to start my benefits on 11/19. My wife turns 66 in Nov and applied online for spousal only effective 11/19. Will this work out? When they review my wife's online app, will it coordinate with them knowing I am starting benefits in Nov? Thanks very much

Hi,

If you've previously filed for and suspended your benefits, then it should work out okay. However, if you just filed for your benefits today then I'm not sure if Social Security will coordinate things correctly. A person can't file for spousal benefits unless their spouse has filed for Social Security retirement or disability benefits, so Social Security would normally disallow a claim for spousal benefits filed by a spouse whose spouse hasn't yet filed. But, if your wife's claim was still pending when your claim was filed then Social Security should eventually be able to sort things out.

If you did just initially apply for your benefits today and didn't previously file for and suspend your benefits, then I would suggest discussing your situation with the claims representative that took your claim. You and your wife may also want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to determine whether or not the filing strategy you've chosen is in fact your best option.

Best, Jerry