Hi Larry and team,
I will be 63 the end of October and still working, making approx $42,000 per year. I plan to continue working as long as I can, maybe cutting down after age 68. My husband is 85 and very ill. He has been collecting since Feb 1995, DOB 8/31/31 His current benefit before medicare is $1669. He had a part time job for a few years after retirement. As of my current salary at FRA 66 mine would be $1557 age 70 could be approx $2000. I am trying to make sure I make smart decisions while I am still in a mindset to do so and not emotional. I do not want to do something seriously wrong when the time comes that he passes. Should I collect early on mine and bank what ever I get? Wait and collect at 66? Collect widow at the time of passing or wait till age 66 and then collect mine at 70? I have spoken with 2 different advisors and got more confused with different answers. I found your site and Q&A and was very impressed. Do I need to know why his starting payment was in 1995? Thank you so very much for any assistance you can give me. Barbara

Hi Barbara,

I'm sorry to hear about your husband's health problems.

Based on the information you furnished in your question, your best strategy is almost certainly to file for spousal benefits only when you reach age 66, then switch to your own account at age 70. If your husband passes away before you reach age 66, you should file for widow's benefits effective with the month of his death, then switch to your own record at age 70. You may want to consider running the maximization software available on this website to see a full analysis.

The Social Security earnings test (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking2.html) may limit the amount of benefits that you could receive prior to age 66, but you should still go ahead and file for widow's benefits in the event of your husband's death. The more you can draw on your husband's record before switching to your own account at 70, the better. Your husband's benefit amount in 1995 is irrelevant, so don't be concerned with that.

Best, Jerry