What is the best strategy for my husband and myself. He will be 66 in Feb 2017 and I will be 61 in Feb 2017. His social security benefits at age 66 will be $900/mo and my benefits at age 66 will be $2400. Can he take his benefits at age 66 and then switch to my spousal benefits when I start taking SS at age 70 (at which time he will be 74 years old)

Hi,

Your husband can start taking his benefits at age 66 and then file for spousal benefits when you start drawing your benefits. He wouldn't switch to your record, though. Instead, he would continue to receive his own benefit plus the difference between 50% of your full retirement age rate (PIA) and his own PIA. The net result is that he would end up receiving a combined rate of 50% of your PIA once you start drawing.

This is likely the best strategy in your case given the information contained in your question, but you may want to consider using the maximization software available on this website to be sure that you make the optimal choice.

Best, Jerry