Dr. Kotlikoff,

Today, I finished reading your updated book, Get What's Your's from Social Security. I was looking for information about filing a Restricted Application. I kinda threw in the towel on doing anything other than my wife and I each filing at age 66 after the File and Suspend option went away for us. After reading page 82 of your book, and several other pages, it seems we may be eligible to do something similar with a Restricted Application. Here are our data:

Wife, homemaker with no income history, DOB - 11/14/1952
Me, retired with more than 35 consecutive years of income above the FICA max, DOB - 01/17/1953

Can my wife file for a spousal benefit on 01/17/2019 while I wait until 01/17/2023 to file for my benefit? It was not clear to me after reading your book if we could do that or how to do that. I'll appreciate your help. Thanks!

Hi,

Unfortunately, no. Your wife couldn't qualify for spousal benefits until you file for your benefits. And, due to the new law passed by Congress in 2015 (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/claiming.html), spousal benefits cannot be paid on the record of a worker whose benefits are in suspense, unless the worker suspended their benefits prior to April 30 2016.

So, your wife won't be able to draw spousal benefits on your record until you start receiving your benefits. You may want to use the maximization software available on this website in order to compare your options and determine the best overall filing strategy for you and your wife.

Best, Jerry