Ask Larry

How Can We Maximize Our Benefit Amounts?

Hi, my wife get Social Security this year at age 62. I get in 2017. We do not want to wait until full retirement age due to poor Health. Can we do anything to maximize our SS Benefits or get medicare Thanks, John

John, filing at 62 means your benefits will be at their minimum amount, about 75% what they would be if you waited until your full retirement age (FRA). To get them at their highest, you'd need to wait until 70 when they'd be 132% of the FRA amount. You could withdraw your wife's application for her retirement benefit and repay the benefits received since it's been less than 12 months since she filed. Short of all of this, waiting as long as possible will increase your benefits over what they'd be after filing at 62. Each month you delay means a higher benefit amount. Thanks, John

Posted: 
Jul 7 2016 - 9:45pm
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