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Filing Strategies

May 25, 2023

What Is The Downside To My Spouse Claiming Her Own Benefits At 62 And Then Upgrading To Spousal Benefits When I Turn 67?

May 20, 2023

Can I Collect SS From My First Spouse?

May 18, 2023

Is There An Average Acceptable Cost From Savings To Defer SS Until My Wife And I Are Both Age 70?

May 10, 2023

Should I Wait Until I Retire To Apply For Survivor Benefits?

May 3, 2023

If I Suspend My Survivor Benefits Because Of Earnings Do They Continue To Accrue?

April 27, 2023

If My Wife Starts Out Drawing Disability Benefits WIll Those Benefits Convert To 50% Of My Benefit When She Reaches Age 67?

April 23, 2023

What Are Your Suggestions On When I Should Claim Survivor Benefits?

April 16, 2023

Can My Wife Collect Her Benefits Now At Age 63 WIthout Losing The Ability To Collect Half Of My Benefit Amount Later?

April 13, 2023

Should I Apply At Age 62 So That I Can Draw Some Benefits Before Retiring From The Local School District?

March 26, 2023

Is There A Good Reference For Learning The Nuances Of Filing Strategies For A Married Couple?

March 20, 2023

Should I Go Ahead And Start Collecting Benefits For My Son Now?

March 7, 2023

When Would Be The Best Time For My Wife To Take Her SS?

March 6, 2023

Can I File Now To Start My Benefits In May?

March 2, 2023

What Is The Best Filing Strategy In My Case?

February 23, 2023

Should I Switch Over To Ex-Spousal Benefits Or Stay With My Own Benefits?

February 18, 2023

Is Our Plan Sound And Viable?

February 15, 2023

Would The Benefit Increase I Receive By Waiting Until Age 70 Be Enough To Offset What I Could Receive By Filing Sooner?

February 5, 2023

Would It Be More Beneficial For Me To Wait Until Age 60 To Remarry?

February 5, 2023

Would You Recommend Any Options For Me And My Wife Other Than Waiting Until Age 70 To Apply?

February 1, 2023

Did We Leave Money On The Ground?

January 23, 2023

Is There A Strategy That Maximizes Benefits In My Case?

January 16, 2023

Is Waiting Until Age 70 To Claim Benefits My Wife's Best Strategy?

January 14, 2023

Should I Start Drawing My Own SS Now In Anticipation Of Collecting A Higher Widow's Benefit Later?

January 14, 2023

Should I Start Drawing My Own SS Now In Anticipation Of Collecting A Higher Widow's Benefit Later?

January 11, 2023

Does The Fact That My Husband Started Out Collecting SSDI Affect Our Best Strategy?

December 22, 2022

Would It Be Better For Me To Take My Own Benefits Or My Husband's?

November 30, 2022

Is It Best To Wait Until Age 68, Or 68 & 2 Months?

November 28, 2022

Would You Still Advise Waiting Until Age 70 To Claim Benefits If Personal Circumstances Allow?

November 25, 2022

Can You Confirm That My Plan Is Valid?

November 21, 2022

Is This Correct?

October 25, 2022

Has Anyone Done An NPV On Taking SS At FRA vs. Age 70?

October 19, 2022

Is There Any Advantage To Starting Benefits At Age 69 Instead Of 70 Due To The New COLA?

October 18, 2022

Is It Correct That I Need To Wait Until My Full Retirement Age To Get My Husband's Full Amount?

October 16, 2022

If My Wife Files For Her Benefits At Age 62 Will She Be Eligible For 50% Of My Benefit When I Begin Receiving My Benefits?

October 7, 2022

Should I Wait Until 2023 To Apply For Benefits In Order To Get Credit For My 2022 Earnings?

September 26, 2022

Should I File For Retroactive Benefits Or Will That Have A Negative Effect On My Future Benefits?

September 22, 2022

When Must I Apply For Benefits To Get The Increased January 2023 Rate?

September 14, 2022

Should I Switch To My Own Benefits Now So That I Can Collect The Upcoming COLA?

September 12, 2022

Should My Wife Start Collecting Her Benefits At Age 62 And Invest All Of The Money?

September 7, 2022

Should My Wife File For Her Benefits Early Due To Her Illness?

September 5, 2022

Does This Seem Correct?

September 5, 2022

Is My Analysis Flawed?

September 3, 2022

What Are My Daughter's Options For Finding Her Best Benefit?

September 1, 2022

Does It Make Sense For My Wife To Start Collecting At Age 69 Instead Of 70?

August 18, 2022

Was It In My Best Interest To Apply For My Social Security Benefits At Age 62?

August 11, 2022

Is There A Point At Which High Inflation And COLAs Negate The Advantage Of Waiting Until Age 70 To Collect?

August 10, 2022

Are There Any Filing Strategies For Me To Consider?

August 4, 2022

How Can I Maximize My Monthly Benefit?

August 2, 2022

How Can I Maximize My Retirement At Full Retirement Age?

July 31, 2022

What Is Our Best Strategy To Maximize Social Security Income?

July 27, 2022

Can I File For Spousal Benefits Now And Wait Until Age 70 To File For My Own Benefits?

July 6, 2022

Am I Really Gaining That Much By Waiting Until Age 70?

June 25, 2022

Will My Wife's Survivor Rate Be Affected If She Starts Receiving Her Own Benefits Prior To Her Full Retirement Age?

June 24, 2022

If My Wife Applies For Benefits At Age 62 Can She Get The Higher Of Her Own Benefit Or 50% Of My Benefit Amount?

June 20, 2022

What Is My Best Option For Collecting U.S. Social Security, CPP & Canadian Old Age Security?

June 3, 2022

Am I Correct In Thinking That My Best Strategy Is To Claim Spousal Benefits At Age 65?

May 29, 2022

Will My Wife's Spousal Rate Be Reduced If She Starts Her Own Benefits Early?

May 22, 2022

What Is The Real Story For My Situation?

May 22, 2022

Is There A Best Strategy To Use If My Husband Takes A Job Where He Won't Pay Into Social Security?

May 5, 2022

Is There Any Downside To My Plan For Claiming Benefits?

May 2, 2022

Can I Wait Past Age 70 To Start Drawing Benefits And Get Additional Delayed Retirement Credits?

April 26, 2022

Should I Wait Until My Husband Files So I Can Collect Spousal Benefits?

April 22, 2022

What Is The Proper Course Of Action For Me To Take?

April 19, 2022

Should I Start Collecting My Benefits In December To Collect The January COLA Increase?

April 10, 2022

How Do I Maximize My Social Security?

April 5, 2022

Can I Collect Widow's Benefits Now At Age 64 And Switch To My Own Unreduced Benefit At FRA?

March 28, 2022

What Is My Best Strategy For Claiming Benefits?

March 21, 2022

Does My Filing An Application Automatically Trigger An Application From My Husband?

March 20, 2022

Should I Apply For My Own Benefits Or For Benefits From My Ex-Husband?

March 20, 2022

Can I Take My Benefits Early And Can My Husband Collect Spousal Benefits?

March 14, 2022

How Will I Gain Access To My Or My Husband's Full Benefits And At What Age?

March 12, 2022

When Is It Best To Start Taking Social Security?

March 9, 2022

What Strategy Should We Use To Maximize Our Combined SS?

March 5, 2022

Are There Any Flaws In My Plan?

February 19, 2022

When Should My Wife Start Drawing?

February 17, 2022

Should I Keep My Current Claim Or Withdraw And Apply Later?

February 16, 2022

Can I Collect Benefits On My Ex-Husband's Account At FRA And Wait Until Age 70 To Collect My Own Benefit?

February 16, 2022

How Can I Find Out What I'm Entitled To From My Deceased Husband's Account?

February 14, 2022

If My Wife Files For Her Own Benefits Now Will Her Benefit Rate Be Lower When She Switches To Spousal Benefits?

February 10, 2022

What Is The Best Age To Retire?

February 9, 2022

Given That My Wife Is 10 Years Younger Than Me, Should I Wait Until Age 70 To Claim My SS?

February 8, 2022

Which Of Our Strategies Are Allowed?

February 6, 2022

Is There A Good Reason For My Wife To Wait Until Her FRA To File?

February 3, 2022

What Are Your Thoughts On When I Should Switch To My Own Benefits?

February 3, 2022

Is There A Way To Start Collecting Your Social Security At Age 55 Even If You Aren't Disabled?

January 31, 2022

What Is The Best Age To Start Social Security Benefits?

January 24, 2022

When Do You Recommend Taking Social Security Benefits For High Net Worth Couples?

January 18, 2022

Would It Make Sense For Me To File A Restricted Application For Spousal Benefits?

January 14, 2022

Do You Have Any Recommendations?

January 13, 2022

Is It A Smart Move To Start My Own Benefits At 62 And Then Collect My Deceased Husband's Benefits At My Full Retirement Age?

January 11, 2022

Which Of My Two Possible Strategies Would Be Best?

January 10, 2022

Is There Any Benefit For Me To Claim Spousal Benefits Now?

January 6, 2022

Do I Need To Do Something At Age 70 If I'm Receiving Spouse's Benefits?

January 4, 2022

Should I Take SS At Age 62 If I Have COPD?

January 3, 2022

Is It True That If I Apply For Divorced Widow's Benefits Social Security Will Pay Me The Higher Of That Benefit Or My Own Benefit?

January 2, 2022

Should I File Now Or At Age 70?

December 28, 2021

Do You Recommend Using 85 As An Actuarial Lifespan?

December 26, 2021

Should I File Now Or Should My Husband And I Both Wait Until We're Age 70 To Start Drawing Benefits?

December 16, 2021

Should I Apply At Age 62 So My Children Can Start Collecting Or Wait Until FRA Or Age 70?

December 6, 2021

Should My Wife Start Collecting Her Benefits At Age 62 Since She'll Be Eligible For A Higher Spousal Benefit Later?

About the Author

Laurence J. Kotlikoff 

Laurence J. Kotlikoff is a William Fairfield Warren Professor and Professor of Economics at Boston University, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of the Econometric Society, and a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Professor Kotlikoff received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973 and his Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University in 1977. Kotlikoff is the Director of the Fiscal Analysis Center.
A New York Times Bestselling author, he has written nineteen books and hundreds of professional articles and op-eds. He is a frequent television and radio guest. His columns have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, London Financial Times, the Boston Globe, Bloomberg, Forbes, Yahoo.com, Fortune, and other major publications. In 2014, The Economist named him one of the world's 25 most influential economists