Larry, a few years ago I read your book in anticipation of coordinating and maximizing mine and my wife's Social Security. Unfortunately the revisions to the law precluded our optimization strategy. I am 64 and my wife turns 62 in 9/18. She is inclined to start collection at age 62. If I wait until age 70 and die first will my wife be able to collect the full amount of my larger social security payment?

Hi,

Yes, as long as your wife is at least full retirement age (FRA) when she starts drawing widow's benefits her benefit rate would be unreduced even if she starts drawing her own retirement benefits at age 62. So, if you wait until age 70 to start drawing your benefits and you subsequently die before your wife, she would receive your full age 70 rate assuming that your benefit amount is higher than her own retirement benefit rate. She wouldn't get both her own benefit amount and yours, though, just the higher of the two.

The best overall filing strategy for you and your wife depends on your relative benefit rates among several other factors, so you may want to strongly consider using our maximization software to fully compare all of your options before either of you file for benefits.

Best, Jerry