Hi Larry, My wife and I will soon reach FRA (but not this year). She is still working and plans to do so for several more years. Her birthday is in mid November. We plan to file for her benefit sometime during the year she reaches FRA. I am older, retired, have not filed for SS, the higher wage earner and plan to file for my benefit at 70. I would file restricted application spousal benefit only to begin the same month as her benefit begins (I am old enough to qualify for this benefit). She would have excess earnings from working January - October. If we start both benefits in January of her FRA year, I calculate it would take 2 months of our combined benefits to pay off her $1 for $3 excess earnings withholding (using the 2017 FRA excess earnings limit of $44,880), and we would receive unreduced benefits March through October. Would the excess earnings withholding be eliminated if we started both benefits in March? (ignoring the difference in her higher SS due to her being 2 months older, I know that her SS benefit would be recalculated after her FRA to add the 2 months withheld) that is - Is the excess earnings amount affected by the month of application? (ignoring increased/decreased SS benefit due to age). Thanks so much for your help.

Hi,

No. If your wife is still under full retirement age (FRA) when she files and her earnings are high enough to require 2 months of your combined benefits to be withheld due to the earnings test (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking2.html), then filing for benefits in March instead of January would only delay the withholding. In other words, your March and April payments would then be withheld instead of your January and February payments.

You may want to strongly consider using the maximization software available on this website in order to explore your filing options before you apply. The software is programmed to handle earnings test considerations, so it should be able to help you determine your best strategy.

Best, Jerry