Hello Larry,

This is a question regarding child under-18 and child in-care spouse benefits.

I turned 65 this June, 2018. I work full-time and plan to work at least for another 3 years but possibly until 70. I have a 9 year old daughter and my wife of 10 years is quite a bit younger than I am at 37 years old. She is also working full-time but at considerably lower pay than mine. (On a related note, she is also a green-card holder, not a full citizen. Is that an issue with SS benefits?)

Hi Larry-Hope all is well with you. Here's my question (which I'm sure you have gotten thousands of times), my wife is 64, I'm 59. I was going to wait until my FRA to apply for SS since my wife's SS is nominal at best. I recently heard on a podcast since she will be beyond my FRA when I turn 62 it would be smart to consider applying at that time. I am retired and living comfortably on two pensions (military and small civil service). My game plan was to spend down TSP account prior to beginning SS for tax purposes but I'm now in a quandary. I sure would appreciate any advice.

I am currently 66yrs old and receiving survivor benefits. I had hoped to try to continue with late husband's account until at least 68. Will the changes in SSA necessitate me activating my own account sooner?

Thank you

Hi,

Larry & Friends:

My husband died in 2016 at age 59 while on Social Security Disability; I was age 58. I am age 60 and qualify for reduced survivor benefits at this point. Because I spent many years as a stay at home mom, my own retirement benefits will never be larger than my survivor benefits from my husband if I wait to take the survivor benefits until age 66 years 2 months. My question:. Can I take my own retirement benefits, reduced, at age 62 and then switch to full survivor benefits at age 66 2 months?

My wife is 62 and has never worked very much and I am 57 years old and still plan to work till 62 should my wife start drawing social security now

Hi,

My wife is 58 and disabled, I am 65 and still working, I have not filed for social security and I am in no hurry to do so, my question is can I file spousal benefit on my wifes current benefit and allow my benefit to grow.

If I do file at age 66 would my wife still be entitled to the spousal benefit from me. Half of my current projected benefit would be an increase for her.

Hi,

I was born 11/13/1953. I am retiring on 7/31/2018. My husband is 67 and drawing his full social security of $29,004. Before I start drawing any social security on my own earning record I want to ensure I will not unintentionally and irrevocable reduce my projected social security when I turn 66 on 11/13/2019. I am trying to ensure I fully understand the “Claim Social Security Now, Claim more later rules”. Although these rules were suspended, as I understand it since I was born in 1953, I was grandfathered and therefore eligible under the old rules.

Is restricted application going away?
Also, I have made more than my wife. We are both turning 66 this year (our FRA). Can she file and I take a spousal benefit, while I wait to file at 70?
Fred

Hi Fred,

My wife filed for SS when she turned 66 last year. I will be turning 66 in August. I am hoping to file a restricted application, collect spousal benefits for the next four years, then begin collecting SS against my own work record when I turn 66. Will doing do prevent my wife from "switching" to spousal benefits at that time -- since my FRA is more than twice hers? Or is there any other downside to my filing a restricted application at this time?

Thanks, Keith

Hi Keith,