Are you older than 60 but still working or trying to find a job and may risk dipping into your social security? Philip Moeller, co-author of The New York Times Best Seller "Get What's Yours: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security" tells you that there is a strategy that may work.
Joanne is in a dilemma at the moment. The 64 year old is currently collecting unemployment and her husband is 67 years old and still working.
She is having a hard time finding work because of her senior age and she fears that the couple may be dipping into their social security to secure them financially.
First, you should know by now that there are recent changes to social security laws that will restrict millions of people from claiming their benefits when it takes effect on April 2016. The new rules means married couples will have fewer claiming options,
If your spouse is currently 66 years old, your spouse can file and suspend at any time before the end of April. "File and suspend" will be done away with after April 2016, so Moeller suggests to do it now. This will enable your application, since it was filed earlier, to be much more eligible since it's prior to the restricted date.
There is also the option of a lump-sum payment equal to the cumulative amount of all suspended benefits. This is his recommendation if ever the need for a financial or medical concern and emergency occurs within the family.
If your spouse is 66 this year and you're only 64, Moelle suggests that you should wait to collect spousal benefits until your birth month in 2017. This is a long wait but this will entitle you to get full spousal benefit of half your husband's age. Hopefully, Joanne and her husband has some retirement savings on hand, as Philip Moeller explains.
