Ask Larry

Can I File For Spousal Benefits And Take My Own Social Security At Age 70?

I suspended my social security at 62. I am now 66. I was born in 1951. My wife was born in 1954. Can I suspend my social security , My wife will begin to take her social security. I will take 1/2 of her benefit as a spousal benefit. I will take my own social security at 70. Can I do this?

Hi,

You can't voluntarily suspend your benefits prior to full retirement age, so I don't know what you mean when you say that you suspended your Social Security at age 62. As long as your wife is drawing her retirement benefits and you haven't yet filed for benefits on your own record, you could file a restricted application for spousal benefits only and allow your own benefit rate to grow until age 70. However, if you've already filed for your own retirement benefits you couldn't draw full spousal benefits even if your benefits are in suspense, unless you are able to withdraw the application that you filed on your own record (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/withdrawal.html).

You and your wife may want to strongly consider using the maximization software available on this website in order to determine your best overall filing strategy.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Dec 14 2017 - 5:52am
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