Hello Larry.

I am 67 1/2 planning to begin benefits at 70. My wife will reach FTA on 11/3/20. My PLAN is to have her file for benefits NO EARLIER THAN DEC 2020, then I will file for restricted filing claiming half her benefits till I hit 70 (her benefit is 2070/month) QUESTIONS.
1.) Do I need to wait until she RECEIVES her first benefit check OR when she is approved to file my claim? My thought was to wait till she rec. her check which would be in Dec/Jan.
2.) When I file my claim, what do I "say" so they know I am going to be filing for my benefits at age 70?

(fyi, I own your SS program which is good...but I wanted to verify the answer to the above question so as not to jepordize my benefits by making a mistake.

Thanks for your help!

Hi,

You can file your application on the same day your wife files her application. Or, you can file after she does as long as it's within 6 months after the month you want choose as your month to start your benefits. You'll want to pick the same month that your wife chooses as her initial month of entitlement to benefits as your month of election to begin spousal benefits. By the way, if your wife reaches full retirement age (FRA) on November 3 2020, she'll get her FRA rate if she elects November 2020 as her initial month of entitlement to benefits.

If you apply online there should be a question on your application that asks you if you want to defer filing for your own retirement benefits, which you'd want to answer 'yes'. You can also add a statement in the remarks section stating: "I wish to restrict the scope of this application to spousal benefits only." You don't need to say anything about when you want to claim your own benefits. You will be required to file a separate application form when you want to file for your own benefits.

For the benefit of other readers, I should note that only people born prior to January 2 1954 are allowed to file for spousal benefits without also being deemed to be filing for their own benefits. And, they can only do so if they claim the spousal benefits effective at FRA or later. People born after January 1 1954 cannot file for either spousal benefits or their own retirement benefits without being deemed to be filing for both benefits at the same time.

Best, Jerry