I filed and suspended my Social Security benefits until 70 at age 66 before the April 2016 deadline. My wife will be eligible for spousal benefits the coming April. When should we start the process? In addition, it is my understanding she should request spousal benefits only, and not file for her own Social Security benefits until age 70--correct? Last, can she stay on spousal benefits of it is greater than her own at age 70?

Hi,

Your wife can file her claim as early as this month if she wants to claim benefits starting with April 2018, but filing in February should be plenty soon enough. And yes, if your wife is turning full retirement age in April, she can file a restricted application just for spousal benefits only and allow her own benefit rate to grow until age 70. And yes, she could continue receiving spousal benefits indefinitely. Your wife wouldn't ever be required to file on her own record, and in fact there would likely be no reason to do so unless her own retirement rate at age 70 would be higher than her spousal rate.

Best, Jerry