I'm 77 and have been receiving social security for 15 years. My wife has also taken her social security since she turned 62 (11 years). Is there any strategies for us to look at that could increase our benifits?

Dick

Hi Dan,

Probably not, assuming that you have filed for all of the benefits for which you're eligible. That's no doubt the case if you are both receiving benefits on your own accounts, and neither of your benefits is less than half the amount of the other's benefit. On the other hand, if one of you is receiving less than half the amount of the other, then you should probably check with Social Security to see if you qualify for additional spousal benefits. However, sometimes one spouse is correctly receiving less than half of the other due to differences age reductions and/or Medicare withholdings, etc.

In theory at least, you could increase your benefits through additional work & earnings. Social Security benefit amounts are calculated using your best 35 years of inflation adjusted earnings, and can be increased by replacing a previous year with a higher year of earnings. Keep in mind, however, that a single year or two of higher earnings generally has only a small impact on a 35 year average.

Best, Jerry