In August 2014, having reached my FRA, my disability benefit automatically converted to a retirement benefit. I immediately applied for spousal benefits and filed form 521 to withdraw my retirement benefit as if I had never filed for a retirement benefit thus allowing me to accumulate delayed retirement credits. Upon request, I payed back the one retirement benefit check I had received. So far, everything had been confirmed in writing as expected. In May 2018, I applied for my retirement benefits to start at age 70.

Husband 66 and Wife 64. If she collects under her record at her FRA can she then switch to a spousal (if it will be greater) when he applies at 70?

Hi,

Can my husband take a 6 month social security lump sum at age 70 if he has been collecting spousal benefits?

Hi,

Today is 9-1-18. My 66th FRA birthday is in 3.5 months (12-16-18). My wife does not have/will never have enough work credits to draw a benefit on her own work record in the U.S. Her 67th birthday is 10-17-18. We have no children. My monthly benefit per SS at FRA is 2,750$/month. If I postpone filing until I'm 70, then between the two of us we are not collecting 2,750 + 50% of 2,750 for 4 years or about 198,000$ (ignoring both cola increases and inflation).

Can I apply for Widow's benefits at age if I was born in 1956?
I am still working and turned 62 this year. I wanted to file for widow's Benefits first and then switch to my at age 70.
I was told I would not be able to do this. My husband passed away a few years ago at age 71.
He had been collecting SS since he was 64. My SS will be higher then the widow's benefits at age 65, but it sill makes since to let my grown more until 70. If I am in good health.

Dear Larry,

Loved your revised edition of Get What's Yours.

If my birthday is 6 Jul and I want to start collecting Social Security at full retirement age do I need to request 6 Jul as starting date or 1 Aug for example. Will that make any difference? Also, if I start collecting 1Aug, do my earnings for that year (Jan through Jul) will count towards retirement or just full years?

HI,

Is there a problem for an ex-spouse to start taking her own SS benefit at age 65 and wait till her ex-spouse starts drawing his SS benefit 6 years later when he turns 65 and switch to half of his benefit? They were married long enough (27 years).

Hi,

I'm 56 on SSDI. My spouse passed away this year at 70. There's only a few dollars difference in our benefits. My question is if I take my spouses benefits as a widow can I earn money from working without a cap or limit?

Hi,

I'm sorry for your loss.

Unclear on restricted application, I will be 66 October 2018, husband will be 66 March 2018, both plan to start collecting SS at age 70. QUESTION: when I turn 66 in October can I file restricted application collecting a spousal benefit even though both of us are delaying SS to age 70? Can he do the same when he turns 66? I have read numerous articles and SSA info on this topic and I am still confused.

Hi,

No. The only way that you could qualify for spousal benefits is if your spouse is drawing retirement or disability benefits on their own record.