Dear Larry,

Loved your revised edition of Get What's Yours.

i will be marrying a 68 year old widow who has $2,600 in PIA based on her late husband's work record. I am 62 and not working. I understand from your book that our marriage after our ages 60 will not forfeit her PIA based on her late husband. If I file for spousal benefits, will it be based on her $2600 or on the $1300 of her own work record? Do I understand your book correctly that I can file for spousal benefits now or at FRA and still get my full social security at age 70? How do I do that? Thanks, Victor

Hi Victor,

Since you were born after January 1 1954, you couldn't file for spousal benefits at any age without also being deemed to have also filed for your own retirement benefits. So no, you couldn't draw spousal benefits while allowing your own retirement benefit rate to grow until age 70.

You're correct, though, that a remarriage after reaching age 60 doesn't terminate widow's benefits, so your new wife will be able to continue drawing her widow's benefits even after your marriage.

If you did file for spousal benefits on your new wife's record, your potential spousal rate would be based on 50% of your wife's own primary insurance amount (PIA) assuming that she's receiving at least part of her benefits on her own record. You wouldn't qualify for any benefits based on her deceased husband's record. And, if your own PIA is more than 50% of your new wife's PIA, then you couldn't qualify for any spousal benefits either.

Before filing, you should strongly consider using our maximization software to compare your options and determine your best filing strategy.

Best, Jerry