A friend applied for Social Security benefits a few years back. During the application process they asked her if she wanted to use her work history or her husband's to calculate the benefits. Not knowing exactly what it meant she decided to use hers. Unfortunately, she should have used her husbands since she was a homemaker for the majority of her life. She is receiving benefits, but I wonder if there is a way she could change her benefits to use her husband's work history? What would be required to make this change? Thanks

Hi,

I am 63, retiring in a few months. My wife is 50, retiring at 55. Can I file for spousal benefits at some point, then get full benefits at 70? Also, how would she maximize benefits?
Thank you

Hi,

65 this coming June. Could use extra income, but continuing with work earning 90k a year. If I take SocSec at 65, I receive $2,048.00, but after income reduction, I think it is just North of $1,300.00. When I turn 66, and I continue working, does my base of 2,048.00 remain forever? I would like to wait until I am 66 to draw and I do plan on working full-time until 68-70, but finances are tight at this time for me. Trying to get by for one more year. What are the pros and cons of drawing this June versus in June 2018, 19, 29, 21, or 22? Confused.

Hi,

If my husband(age 67) has been getting a spousal benefit from my social security, let's say, for only a couple months(thinking he would wait until age 70 to get maximum benefit for himself) and circumstances change and we find it would be better for him to file for his own benefit earlier than age 70 can that be done? I guess I am asking: Is there is any penalty for changing the plan so soon after setting up the first? Or: Does the SS office have a "time" limit on a re-file? I hope I am explain this so you understand. Thank you.

Hi,

I just turned 70 and applied on line based on my own earnings record. My husband filed in October 2016 at age 70 and is still working. SS contacted me and explained 3 options: 1) file on my record at age 70, receive $3473 monthly; 2) file on my record at age 70, receive $3473, plus 6 months spousal benefit of $8,000+; or 3) receive reduced benefit of $3368 based on age 691/2 retroactive filing age and lump sum spousal benefit of $23, 084.

Larry,
My wife is 69 and is collecting her SS. I will be 66 this July. I am still working full time and will continue to work until at least 68. I plan to file a restricted application for spousal benefits only as discussed in your book. Should I wait until my 66th birthday before I file the restricted application for my spousal benefits? I do not want SS to deem that I am filing for my SS benefits.

Hi,

Social security personnel have given me conflicting answers, in person and on phone. My husband who turned 65, march, of 2017, will start receiving his S.S. retirement benefits in May of this year, 2017. I will turn 65 on June 29 of 2017. My retirement benefits at 65 will be $300.00 a month, as I have never been an employee of my husbands business and only worked part time prior to this. I would like to defer my s.s. benefits and receive i believe it is 45.8%of my husband at the beginning of birthday month of June 2017.

I am drawing my late husbands disability and working . I am thinking about retiring and just drawing Johns disability . Is there any other benefits that I may inquire about. I am not very knowledgable on this . Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi,

I turned 63 in dec 2016, I filed to start recieving my own SS benifits when I turned 62, My husband just turned 69 in February and he started his benifits at 66. My ? is can I go back and suspend my benefits and collect spousal instead,the amount is very close to what I now get, and let my benefits acrue till I am 70 or is it too late. I just became aware that being born in 1953 I could have filed that way originally. Hope its not too late to change my mind. Thank You

Hi,

I'm 63 Years old and receiving SSI of $1680.00 per month it is very difficuly to live on this, can I apply for Retirement benefits? And much more will I be able to receive? I'm not able to work due to I need a kidney transplant.

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear about your health problems.