I am 69. My birth date is 12/27/1948. I will be 70 on 12/27/2018

I have been married for 18 years. My wife started getting social security payments last year. She makes/made more money than I do. She started taking her Social Security benefits before she was at full retirement, because of an expensive illness.

I have not applied for my social security, but I have filed for spousal benefits and.
when I started getting getting monthly spousal benefits in September 2017, I also got a one time pay out of $5,000+.

Thank you for your Social Security information column. A few years ago I subscribed to your software and the information you provided was very helpful.

Your column is what made it possible for me to delay filing for my social security benefits and instead initially filing for my wife's spousal benefits.

Meanwhile, I am getting $800 + a month spousal benefits and by Social Security's calculations, and my own, when I turn 70 on December 27, 2018, I will cancel my spousal benefits, and file for my own retirement benefits to the tune of around $1,350 a month.

I must confess that I don't fully understand where the $5000+ came from when I started getting Social Security spousal payments, nor the $800+ in monthly spousal benefits, but my bottom line question is, what date should I cancel my spousal payments and start my own retirement payments at around $1,300?

I'm hoping I can take a date for switching that will not cause a gap in my social security payments.

Thank you for any assistance you can extend to me on this matter.

Sincerely,
John

Hi John,

The $5000+ that you received is almost certainly back pay that you were due for months of entitlement to spousal benefits preceding your month of filing. Social Security can pay you benefits for up to 6 months retroactively from the date you applied provided that you were over full retirement age and your wife was entitled to her benefits during that time .

To answer your question, though, there's no need to cancel your spousal benefits. Assuming that your retirement rate is higher than your spousal rate, Social Security will automatically terminate your spousal benefits when they start paying your retirement benefits. There shouldn't be any gap in your payments. Assuming that you want to wait to start your retirement benefits when you turn age 70 in December, you would want to choose December on your application as your month of election. You could file your application up to 4 months in advance of December, but a month or two before should suffice.

Best, Jerry