I am turning 70 in June 2020 and will be applying for SS to begin when I turn 70. My spouse is 66 1/2 years and she has been getting SS for last 3 years. Can I suspend her SS benefit and claim 1/2 of mine since i am highest earner of the two. Or what is the best way to maximize SS benefit for both of us?
Thanks,

Hi,

No, your wife cannot suspend her own benefits and be paid spousal benefits instead. What she could do, though, is apply file for an excess spousal when you file for you your benefits. If she qualifies, the excess spousal benefit would then be paid in addition to her own benefit rate. She'll only qualify for an excess spousal benefit if 50% of your primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than her own PIA. A person's PIA is equal to the amount of their Social Security retirement benefit if they start drawing at full retirement age (FRA).

If you haven't already done so, it sounds like you should file for spousal benefits from your wife's record as soon as possible. Filing a restricted application just for spousal benefits would have no adverse affect on your own benefit rate, so your own benefit rate would continue to grow until age 70 even while you're collecting spousal benefits. You could then file for your own benefits when you reach age 70, at which time your wife could apply for excess spousal benefits if she qualifies. That's probably your best strategy, but you should strongly consider use our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to be sure.

Best, Jerry