I turn 66 this month (April 2018). My wife turns 66 at the end of August 2018. Due to an illness which is now in remission, I retired in 2015. My wife retired from teaching in 2016. Neither of us has yet filed for Soc. Sec. benefits. Both of us have filed for Medicare and have the code letter "T" following our claim numbers (meaning we only elected to receive health care insurance benefits and no Soc. Sec. retirment benefits yet).

Since my life expectancy is likely decreased due to my illness, I plan to file for my full Soc. Sec. benefits since I will now be at my FRA. I made more money than my wife while working, but my decreased life expectancy argues for filing for full benefits now rather than suspedning to age 70. Can I file now for my full benefits and when my wife reaches her FRA in late August can she file and suspend until she reches age 70, but get a spousal benefit beteen age 66 and age 70?

Looking forward to your reply. Thank you!

Hi,

Your wife couldn't file for and suspend her own benefits and still receive spousal benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/claiming.html?intcmp=AE-RET-PLRT-REL...), but she could potentially file just for spousal benefits only at her full retirement age and wait until age 70 to file for her own benefits. Of course, you would have to be drawing your benefits in order for your wife to be able to receive spousal benefits.

Another factor to consider before deciding when to file is the effect that it may have on the rate that your wife could receive as a widow. Her potential widow's rate couldn't exceed the amount of your retirement benefit, so you may also be limiting your wife's potential survivor rate by filing for your benefits now as opposed to age 70. If your benefit rate is higher than your wife's then it may be a better strategy for her to file for retirement benefits and for you to file just for spousal benefits while letting your own rate grow until age 70.

Before either of you file, you and your wife should strongly consider using our maximization software to compare all of your filing options in order to identify the strategy that's best for both of you considering your set of circumstances.

Best, Jerry