My earnings are massively lower than my husband's; he would get the maximum SocSec retirement benefits, while my own would be about $500/month at full retirement age. I know that we should try to wait till he is age 70 before he claims his benefits. Also, I know that as long as we are married, I can't claim spousal benefits unless he is also claiming his benefits. I believe the file-and-suspend loophole is no longer allowed for this.

i am 65. will be 66 in march 2019. i am still work and mostly like will till FRA. my wife of 40 years will be 64 in april 2019 and has not worked for 10+ yars. reading through all the file and suspend and file on spousal benefits, not sure best route to take to get her benefits where she maybe able to use some of my earnings. any suggestions?

Hi,

My wife retired from school system at age 50. She chose the income leveling option to for her pension payment. She is now 59 and I am 63. I have not claimed SS yet. We have a 12 year old daughter.
What impact does income leveling have on determining my wife's and our family benefits?

Thanks

Hi,

I am 66 and my wife will be 72 in a month. I earned well more than she did in part because she stopped working for many years to raise our kids. We were both born before January 2, 1954. In 2012 when she turn 66 she applied for and is receiving (not suspending) monthly retirement benefits. I have not applied for any benefits but ran a report that suggests that I should apply for spousal benefits now and then apply for retirement benefits when I reach age 70. The report has a section about when to collect particular benefits for married couples, but it's very confusing.

Will this be a good strategy for an early retireee? I plan to retire at around 62~63, and withdraw money from my 401K to pay for my living expenses. Then at 65, I will start collect my pension benefit from my company. At 67, I will file and collect Social Security benefit? [Note: My wife is 9 years younger than me. I should be able to get group health rate through my wife. However, she is also thinking to retire at the same time as I. So, she will follow my footstep, i.e., she will also wait until 65 to collect her penson and until 67 to collect Social Security.]

I am 61 year old female divorced after 11 years. I earn a very modest salary and I do not own my own home. I rent an apartment. I checked my social security benefits and at age 62 I will receive $400 less monthly than if I wait until age 66 1/2. My question is should I begin collecting social security at age 62 to assist me with my living expenses which I do need help with until I can begin collecting 1/2 of my ex-husband's social security? I can earn the extra $400 monthly, no problem.

Hi, Larry.
My dear husband passed away about a year and a half ago at the age of 61. He was still working and had not filed for Social Security. I just turned 65 and am still working. My SS at FRA or even at 70 will in all likelihood never be as much as my husband's.

My wife's FRA is less than 1/2 mine. She is 2 years younger. If I wait until 70 to collect my benefit, can she claim her benefit at 62, then switch to a larger spousal benefit when she turns 68 and I have started claiming my benefit? It is my understanding she can't be deemed since I will not have started claiming when she applies at 62 and therefore will not be eligible for a spousal benefit. Or am I missing something. Please advise.

Hi,

I will turn 65 in a few days, and I have 2boys, 14 and almost 12. I will keep working until age 72, if lucky.
I am in good health.
I will be divorced in early 2019., unless it's better for Social Security benefits to stay married (very friendly situation)
My soon to be ex spouse makes about $172,000
I make about $275,000

Hi,

Hi, I’m trying to determine my spousal benefit amount if I file a restricted application and my wife is receiving SSDI. My question is somewhat similar to a July 26 “Spousal Benefits” question you answered. My facts... wife is 65 (FRA June 2019) and receiving $1,100 SSDI. I’m 65 (FRA Oct 2018) with estimated PIA $2,400.