My husband’s birthdate is 2/24/1952 (now 69-1/2 years old); my birthdate is 8/9/1952 (now 69 years old). My husband will work until he turns 70 in 2/2022; I retired on 3/31/2019, when I was age 66-1/2. We have not filed for SS benefits yet as we were thinking about waiting to file until age 70 to collect our maximum benefits. We are looking for your advice as to when I should file. At age 70, my husband’s estimated monthly benefits will ill be $3,955; at age 70, my estimated monthly benefits will be $2,231 (my estimated benefit as of 8/2021 is $2017). Once my husband files next February 2022 at age 70, should I file and suspend my benefits and then collect 50% of my husband’s benefits until I turn 70 in August 2022, in order to collect the most benefits to our advantage? Please provide our best case scenario. Thanks for your time and prompt response!

Hi. You would definitely want to claim spousal benefits when your husband starts drawing his benefits, but you wouldn't do that by filing for and suspending your own benefits. If you file for and suspend your own benefits then you couldn't be paid spousal benefits even if you qualify for them (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/claiming.html).

If you plan to wait until age 70 to start drawing your own benefits, what you'll want to do is file a restricted application for spousal benefits effective with the first month of your husband's entitlement to benefits. Filing a restricted application means that your limiting the scope of your application specifically to spousal benefits only. You'll then need to file a separate application for your own benefits when you want to switch to drawing on your own account, presumably at age 70.

However, since both you and your husband were born prior to January 2 1954, that opens up a number of other possible filing options that you may at least want to consider. You and your husband should strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze the options available to you so that you can decide which filing strategy would work out best for you.

Best, Jerry