Hi, I am a single man, born in 1955 and do not have children. I live with a sibling 3 years younger who is also single without children. Are there any special social security rules or strategies that we can employ to maximize our future benefits? We are not on SSDI, we both work. Thank you.

Hi,

I'm 57 employed full time. I am divorced and a widow. Can I collect widows pension at 60 and switch to ex spouse or my own social security at 62? 65?? - than take the largest social security at 70?

Hi,

You can file for reduced widow's benefits at 60, but there is an earnings test that may keep you from actually drawing benefits. Social Security withholds $1 of benefits for each $2 that you earn above an established limit, which is set at $15,720 in 2016.

I'll be 66 in November and am considering starting to take SS then, anticipating that I'll stop working this summer. I have ~$800K in various retirement and investment accounts, but enough savings to get me through the end of the year before I start drawing on those. Your advice re SS? Thanks.

Hi,

I've always assumed that my wife and I should wait until we're both 70 to take our social security maximums. Recently, however, I read that for married couples, a good strategy for balancing the benefit of earlier payouts with the benefit of later but higher payouts is for one spouse to collect earlier and the other to collect at the maximum. Any thoughts on this strategy?

Hi,