Larry, I have read "Get What's Yours" but I have a question. I am turning 65 and my wife just turned 53. She has been receiving SS Disability (stroke in 2010) since around 2011. We don't 'need' my social security retirement check at this point but my question is what is the best approach for us to maximize our ss retirement benefits?

Second question: I wasn't intending to take my SS until age 70. Although we don't 'need' the ss retirement check my wife is worried that she won't be able to collect spousal benefits if I don't start at age 66 or 67. What do you advise?

Thank you so much!

Hi,

I would need more information in order to give you any advice, but one strategy you may certainly want to consider would be to file just for spousal benefits only on your wife's record when you reach your full retirement age of 66. You could then potentially draw spousal benefits for 4 years while letting your own benefit rate grow until age 70.

However, depending on your wife's disability benefit rate there may be limited or no benefits payable on her record beyond her own benefits. This is due to the special family maximum benefit formula that applies to Social Security disability accounts (https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/dibfamilymax.html).

Unless you have eligible children who are under the age of 16 or disabled, your wife couldn't receive spousal benefits until she is at least age 62. You will be over age 70 and drawing your Social Security benefits by that time, so waiting until age 70 to file for your benefits will likely have no adverse affect on her ability to potentially receive spousal benefits from your record. Furthermore, by waiting until age 70 to start drawing your benefits you will also be increasing your wife's potential widow's benefit rate should you die before her.

It sounds like you should strongly consider using our maximization software in order to compare your filing options and determine your best strategy.

Best, Jerry