I am 62 also have an adult disabled child (26) with SSI and my wife is 69 but she was working only 5 years therefore she didn't have social security benefit of her own. Currently, I don't have a job. My questions are: A) Can I start taking SS benefit now, so my wife can claim a spouse benefit? B) If I later (6-month or 1 year) find a job, can I suspend my benefit and my wife can continue receiving hers? C) What would you suggest for maximizing social security benefit in my situation?

Hi,

Yes, if you currently have no earnings and you're at least age 62 you could potentially start drawing Social Security retirement benefits now. And, if you do so both your wife and disabled child could draw auxiliary benefits on your record assuming that they meet the requirements for spousal (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.03/handbook-0305.html) and disabled adult child's benefits https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.03/handbook-0323.html), respectively. However, any disabled adult child's (DAC) benefits that your child receives from your record would reduce his or her Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments roughly dollar for dollar.

You couldn't voluntarily suspend your benefits anytime prior to your full retirement age (FRA), but your benefits could be involuntarily suspended if you return to work and earn more than the Social Security exempt amount. The exempt amount in 2019 for people who won't reach FRA this year is $17,640. So, if you return to work and earn more than that amount $1 of the benefits payable on your record this year, including benefits payable to your wife and child, would need to be withheld for every $2 that you earn in excess of $17,640. In other words, your wife and child's auxiliary benefits would be withheld in addition to your benefits until the necessary amount is withheld. However, you and your wife and child could be paid at least for any months in 2019 during which you earn no more than $1470 (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/rule.html).

Your best option depends in large part on your personal preference. If you do start drawing your benefits now, though, the resulting reduction for age that would be applicable to your benefit rate would be permanent for any months that you end up receiving benefits prior to FRA. And, that reduction would carry over to your wife's widow's rate if you die before her. Your wife and child's auxiliary benefits would not be reduced for age even if you start your retirement benefits early, though, so an argument could be made for taking your benefits early so that they could start drawing auxiliary benefits sooner.

Before deciding what to do, you should strongly consider using our software to fully explore and compare all of your options so that you can be sure to choose the filing strategy that you feel would be optimal for you and your family.

Best, Jerry