6 Ways Couples Can Maximize Social Security Payouts

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*This does not include us gay couples. :(

MG of NJ 9:15PM May 03, 2010

I am 62 and could start receiving SS now but would like to wait 'till 70, but many people tell me take it now as benefits will reduce in future and a bird in hand is worth two in bush. Any advice Ms. Brandon?

E. W. Raynolds of CA 10:36PM April 30, 2010

If someone writes a column and receives three questions, shoudn't there be a response ? Just wonderin'.

Charles Ryan of NJ 8:51AM April 29, 2010

My husband worked in Canada for 3 years and has a SS number from Canada He was also Borned in Canada and still has his Citesinship in Canada. He passed away in 2oo7. is he or I intetled to any SS from Canada?

Nadine Gibbs of FL 6:10PM April 27, 2010

Can my wife file to claim her own social security benefits at 62, which would be very little, and then when she reaches 66, stop collecting her own benefits and instead collect 50% of my benefits which would be much larger than what she earned under her own work history?

William F. Gahr of AL 2:27AM April 27, 2010

My husband is a U.S. citizen while I am a Canadian citizen, although we are slowly saving the money to obtain my green card at this point in time I do NOT have an SSN card, does not having an SSN card affect my ability to receive any benefits when I turn 66? When we married we did not know we could immediately obtain an SSN for me and now 8 years later we will have to pay not only the higher fees for the green card plus penalties for failure to apply earlier for the green card. It is difficult trying to save the money while living on Social Insecurity but at least we are secure in the knowledge that we didn't break any laws and waited in line before being allowed entry into the U.S. It is just the situation of not having the SSN which has us confused and at the moment I am disabled needing a shoulder ball joint replacement, I also have seven compressed discs in my back and severe osteoporosis. A simple fall will mean shattered bones instead of a simple break.

Vicki of ID 12:36AM April 27, 2010

The "spousal" or "double earnings" benefits do not work for teachers because of the GPO (Government Pension Offset) and the WEP (forgot what it stands for). If you choose teaching as a career, your teacher retirement is reduced by whatever you collect from SS, so in effect, you don't get both, EVEN if you stayed home for 10 or 15 years rearing kids. Also, teachers do not get spousal survivor's benefits because teacher retirement is offset (reduced) by whatever you receive.
For the WEP, even if you worked in another job before teaching, your own SS from your own quarters reduces your teacher's retirement.

btxusa of TX 9:58PM April 26, 2010

My husband and I have been married 25 years, he is 11 years younger, it would be nice to see strategies that would work for us..... we mostly are dual income earners (with some unfortunately gaps) but twould be nice if couples like us could see some hints as well (I am 61 he is 49).

Lin of MA 4:00PM April 26, 2010