Larry, I will turn 70 on February 1, 2018 and I purchased the "Maximize my Social Security analysis. The collection strategy recommended that I file in Jan 2018 for my retirement benefits.
I started the application process on line and stated in the "Remarks" section that I do not want retroactive benefits but I want my benefit to commence on Feb 1, 2018. Do I have the wording correct or should ask I request to receive my benefit on March 1, 2018?
Also, in the online application I was asked for the last date that I worked. I retired from my employer in 2008; however I have been exercising stock options which are reported as compensation (difference between the market price and the exercise price) and taxes are taken out including SS taxes. My question is since the stock options are recorded as earnings would I still use the 2008 date as the last year I was employed or the last year I received compensation from the stock options?
Thank-you!

Hi,

Since you were born on the 1st of February, Social Security will consider you as reaching age 70 in January. Therefore, you want to start drawing benefits effective with January, not February or March. As long as you entered January 2018 on the question of your application that asks what month you want to claim benefits you should be okay, but the additional remark about February 1st that you entered may confuse matters. If you haven't yet submitted your application, you should remove that remark.

The date of last work question is used by Social Security as a guide to confirm that your earnings record is correctly posted. If you continued to pay Social Security taxes on earnings after 2008, you should enter the year that you last paid Social Security taxes in response to that question.

Best, Jerry