I began withdrawing SS at age 62. My wife is retired and receives a state teacher's retirement pension. SS was never withheld from her teacher's compensation. The SS administration says she does not qualify for benefits because she never met the 40 quarters of contributions required, and her pension benefits are too high to allow her to qualify for a spousal benefit. So - are we doing the best we can?

Hi,

Dear Larry,

I turned 66 March of 2016. I was receiving SSD and it was automatically turned into my social security retirement benefit at that time. I am going through post maintenance review. And my benefits of $1,992 per month is being calculated as income and is causing me to have to pay $1,700 a month because I have additional income from my state pension which is 4300 a month in the 1700 was being taken out of it. Can I suspend my social security benefits to age 70.

My wife (born Oct. 1952) has been employed as a teacher for over 30 years in several US and international school systems. After ten years of teaching in Texas, she took her Texas Retirement System (TRS) amount of $604/month when we moved out of state for new employment. Some of her other employment settings contributed to Social Security and she now has 37 credits.

I'm 53. Wife 48. Both work for State agencies. I have 17 years in pension fund, wife has 1 year. I'll be 61 in 8 years, that also my 25th yr & can "officially" retire from job w/pension & healthcare benefits. When should I take my SS benefits? Thank you. John