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Social Security & Medicare

JT45242

(3,192 posts)

7. The other consideration is how it affects surviving spouse

Reply to CoopersDad (Reply #6)

Tue Feb 18, 2025, 12:35 PM

Feb 18

If your spouse gets more than half your benefit. There is no added money to them if they outlive you.

If yours will be more than double theirs, it may be worth it to take the lesser amount as early as possible to get money now. (This is true of my family, since my wife was stay at home for many years and part time for others ...so she will start drawing as soon as she is eligible)

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I turn 68 in March, what time of year do higher benefits kick in? [View all] CoopersDad Feb 17 OP

January SheltieLover Feb 17 #1

It increases incrementally by month JT45242 Feb 17 #2

Good explanation. Just to add: the incremental increase stops when you turn 70. JustABozoOnThisBus Feb 17 #3

Thanks, I think you've answered my question... CoopersDad Feb 18 #6

The other consideration is how it affects surviving spouse JT45242 Feb 18 #7

Thanks, wife is a retired teacher with CalPers retirement, will receive 50% of my SS CoopersDad Feb 18 #8

Awesome good luck -- I remember doing this when I was a union rep and could not get people to understand this JT45242 Feb 18 #9

an example - if you took the money in April this year Skittles Feb 18 #4

Thanks, Skittles! CoopersDad Feb 18 #5

Yep $255 has been the amount for as long as I can remember too. C0RI0LANUS Feb 21 #10

Hi Skittles. What was your MOS? C0RI0LANUS Feb 21 #11

well you know the options were limited for gals back then Skittles Feb 21 #12

I knew one of the last WACs in the 1980s. You typed up a lot of DD214s I imagine. C0RI0LANUS Feb 21 #13

yup Skittles Feb 21 #14