I am 66. I was born in 1953. I started to draw spousal benefits this summer, and intend to draw my own increased benefit at the age of 70, as I know I am allowed. I find it somewhat disconcerting that some people I spoke with in the SS administration did not seem well versed in this soon to disappear strategy. None of the paperwork I received during the application process explicitly mentioned my right to refile at age 70. Additionally, the SS website which formerly listed my future benefit at age 70 no longer lists that amount, which bothers me more than anything. On top of that my acceptance letter from SS had boilerplate text about applying for Medicare and getting a card in two months. I have been paying for Medicare Part B by check for a year since I turned 65. Should they not know that? Should I be worried, or should I just trust that they will accept my application for my own benefit at age 70 because it is the law? Is there a way to get that in writing, or is the law my “in writing”? I don't want any surprises.

Hi,

I doubt if anyone at Social Security would be willing to write out something to the effect that you can file for your own retirement benefits at age 70, but nonetheless you are permitted to do so. The fact that you can no longer get an online estimate of your benefit rate on Social Security's website is due to the fact that you're now drawing spousal benefits, which is one of the limitations of their site. I'm not sure about the Medicare wording in your award letter, but I don't think it's a cause for concern. I can't guarantee anything, but it sounds like you've done everything correctly so far, and you should be free to file for your own Social Security retirement benefits at age 70 or anytime before then.

Best, Jerry