Larry,

Thank you so much for your very prompt reply. I do truly appreciate it.

If you don’t mind one additional Email, I’m going to ask you in a little different way leaving out the retroactive aspect since you very clearly answered that.

The following is hypothetical couple situation is what I asking now:

I was born May 18, 1953, and my spouse was born on June 5, 1955. I am still working and making about $200,000 a year and will work beyond age 70. My spouse is not currently working and does not intend to do so in the future. Neither of us have started taking Social Security benefits. My Social Security benefit If I took it now at full retirement age would be $2700, and my spouse’s at full retirement age is projected to be $1600.

Would a way to maximize joint benefits be for me to file for restricted benefits now under my spouse’s record and let my benefit grow until I reach age 70, and then switch to my benefit?

Also, if I do this will there be any impact to my spousal benefit when I am still working and making above the earnings test threshold?

Thanks in advance for your attention to this request.

Sincerely, Steve

Hi Steve,

The strategy you propose may well be a good way for this hypothetical couple to maximize their benefits, but in order for the husband to be able to claim spousal benefits his wife would have to claim her Social Security retirement benefits. And, if she claims her benefits prior to her full retirement age (FRA), her benefit rate will be reduced for age and that reduction will continue for as long as both she and her husband are living. That's not to say that the wife shouldn't claim her benefits early so that her husband can claim spousal benefits, though, and many if not most people would likely feel that the amount that the husband could collect in spousal benefits would more than offset the wife receiving a lower monthly rate.

If this husband does claim spousal benefits, his earnings would not prevent him from collecting the spousal benefits. There is no limit on the amount that a person is allowed to earn and draw benefits once they reach FRA.

Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) is designed to analyze situations like the one you describe so that people can fully compare their options and choose the strategy that they believe best addresses their individual needs.

Best, Jerry