I will be 62 soon and am considering getting re-married to my much younger girlfriend (32) who has a very young child (6). My question is, what would be the best strategy to maximize my SS payout based retiring at 62 and maxing out the family maximum? Oh, and if she wants another kid, what would be the consequences of that besides me losing my mind?

Hi,

If you marry, your wife and stepchild could potentially be eligible for auxiliary benefits on your record when you start drawing. However, you would have to be married and providing at least one half of the child's support for at least a year before they could qualify for entitlement. And if you have a child of your own, that child could also qualify for benefits on your record, although their is a maximum family benefit that could be paid out to family members from your record.

Your potential benefit rate and maximum family benefit amount depends on your earnings history and your age at the time you start drawing benefits. Your best strategy depends on many factors, so you should strongly consider using the maximization software available on this website in order to determine your best course of action.

Best, Jerry