Hello, Larry and friends,

I have The Book, and it is amazing. Read it twice, first quickly for the "Oh, my gosh!" effect, then again to try to absorb more of the information.

My concern is that I could find very little re: a deceased, disabled (medically retired from the Army) husband. Most information seemed to apply to a disabled surviving spouse or child.

I am a widow, age 61.i would like to retire at 62. My husband (second) was on disability for over 10 years. My first husband (we were married 19 years then divorced). I am currently still working and earning too much to get survivor benefits. What is my best strategy to maximize my benefits?

Hi,

The answer to your question depends mainly on the relative benefit rates that you could be eligible for on your own record and on the records of your former spouses.

Hi Larry,

Due to health conditions I began drawing SS Benefits at age 62, I'll be 64 this July. My wife will be 62 in June of this year and works part-time. We have a small business that we have operated at a modest profit for 10 years, sales are growing and we plan to continue to expand. I draw $1581 per month my wife would qualify for $650 a month SS on her work record at 62. We aren't sure if she should start drawing benefits early, she wants to continue working part-time and we'll also operate the business.

Dear Mr. Kotlikoff,
I thank you and Jerry so much for answering my question a few days ago. I just got your latest book from Amazon to study.
I have a follow up to my question.
Again, the situation I had described, but now in reverse,

I will be turning 66 in November of 2019. That means, I turned 62 before January 2, 2016. My FRA Benefit will be $2,300/month. My wife will reach her FRA in July 2020 (born after Jan. 1, 1954) with FRA benefit $2,600/month.

Larry,
In May 2019 I will turn 66 years old and do not plan to retire until May 2023, age 70. My retirement will consist of Social Security (I currently work at a private college and have taxed social security earnings) and a small teacher retirement (13 years as an elementary school teacher). The teacher retirement will be subject to a WEP reduction.

My goal is to receive the 50% spousal benefit and avoid the GPO from ages 66 - 70, and then only have the WEP reduction to my own Social Security benefit to begin at age 70 (WEP - my teacher retirement).

Larry,
I will be 66 on April 13 of 2019. I was considering drawing SS at that time. I am the primary earner and still working. My wife turned 62 in December of 2018, and recently talked about filing for her reduced benefits. What is the best strategy for us to maximize our SS benefits.

Hi,

I was born February 11, 1952 and will be 67 this February 2019. My husband was born September 21, 1953 and will be 66 this year. I have not claimed benefits yet, but waited for the 8% delayed retirement credits to build. I did not know to file and suspend. I have since read on page 253 that its ok to just not file until ready. Which is correct: file and suspend now or wait and just file without having suspended? I want to get the delayed retirement credits.

I filed a restricted application and it was accepted; however, I only received one half of my ex spouses entitlement of approx. 1332.50 per month. If I filed on my own I would have received (maximum contributions like my ex) of approx. 2600. Is that right? I plan on working until I am 70 (god willing). Did I make a mistake? Thank you.

Hi,

I will be 66 in April. I currently work and make $88k yearly. I would like to start my social security in May and invest a larger percentage of my pay to my 401k. I anticipate working only 18 more months.

Hi,

What you'd be choosing to do if you follow that strategy is take a permanently lower monthly Social Security benefit rate so that you can put more into a 401k. You're certainly free to do that if you so choose, but it may not be the best idea.