Hi Larry,
I am rereading your book Get What's Yours and I have a couple questions. My 69 year old boyfriend has proposed marriage to me, I will be 65 yrs old in Nov 2018. I understand that if I am married to him for one year when I turn 66, I can receive spousal benefit from his work history. Does that mean I can file and suspend my payments or does it mean I can only delay filing and my taking of my retirement up to 70 where my payments will be higher? He is a much higher earner than me and has been receiving SS payments since 66. Thank you so much for your time. Sincerely,
Michelle

Hi Michelle,

You wouldn't be able to file for and suspend your own benefits and be paid spousal benefits instead, but you could file a restricted application for spousal benefits only at your full retirement age of 66 if you don't file for your own retirement benefits. As you mention, though, you would likely need to have been married for at least a year in order to qualify for spousal benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.03/handbook-0305.html). You could then switch to your own retirement benefits at age 70 if your benefit rate is higher at that time than your spousal rate.

Although the filing strategy mentioned above would probably be best in your case, you may want to double check using our maximization software.

Best, Jerry