Dear Larry,

I will turn 68 near the end of March this year. My wife turns 69 in February (next month). She (b. 1950) filed for benefits at FRA in Feb 2016. She currently receives $428/mo. I (b. 1951) filed for spousal benefits at FRA in March 2017.

At my FRA in Mar 2017, I delayed retirement benefits and wrote in the remarks section: "I wish to restrict the scope of this application to spousal benefits only. I am not filing for my retirement benefit. I want my retirement benefits to start on my 70th birthday."

I receive $214/mo for the spousal benefit. I will turn 68 a week before the end of March this year. Am I locked into retiring at my 70th birthday because I wrote I wanted my retirement benefits to start on my 70th birthday? Would there be a problem to retire at my 68th birthday coming up? I would prefer to retire then, I have run the analysis with your helpful software and all things considered 68 is a good time.

Thank you for your published insights and your answer,

Mike

Hi Mike,

No, you're not locked in. You could still choose to start your Social Security retirement benefits at age 68 regardless of what you wrote in the remarks section of your application for spousal benefits. The only purpose of that remark was to restrict your own Social Security retirement benefits from the scope of your spousal benefit application. And, since you've only filed for spousal benefits so far you are free to file for your retirement benefits whenever you so choose.

Even though your remark indicated that you wanted to start your Social Security retirement benefits effective at age 70, that's not considered as an application for those benefits. You would still be required to file a new application even if you didn't want to start your retirement benefits until age 70.

Best, Jerry