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Economic Security Planning, Inc., Economic Security Planning, Inc., Economic Security Planning, Inc., Economic Security
The topic of today’s column is whether Social Security representatives try to persuade people to take their retirement benefits before they turn 70, whether to file for retirement benefits after receiving survivor benefits, and when spouse benefits may be granted in addition to public pensions. Larry Kotlikoff is a Boston University professor of economics and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc, which distributes Maximize My Social Security and MaxiFi Planner. More Ask Larry responses can be found here.
Do you have any Social Security queries that you’d like answered? Here’s where you can ask Larry about Social Security.

Is it common for Social Security representatives to try to persuade you to begin receiving benefits sooner?
Hello, Larry. I was born in 1955 and am currently pursuing a Social Security retirement benefit application. I received an email from the Social Security Administration a few weeks after submitting my online application, stating that I needed to speak with an intake agent before my case could be processed further.
The reason I contacted the agent was because they wanted me to collect my benefit four months sooner than I had requested. The agent intimated that I was being a fool for not doing so and that I was “leaving money on the table.” Why would they do something like this? Is this standard process for the SSA? Thanks, Kyle
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOU
Hello, Kyle. When customers apply for benefits, it’s standard procedure for a claims representative to explain what filing options they have, but staff aren’t supposed to give advice or try to sway their decisions. So it appears that the representative you spoke with went much above their authority when speaking with you.
However, there are situations when filing for benefits retrospectively can be beneficial, but I don’t have enough information about your situation to know what is best for you. Starting your benefits four months sooner than intended would most likely mean receiving some back pay in exchange for a 2 percent to 3% permanent reduction in your permanent monthly benefit rate.
Choosing the ideal month to begin your benefits might be difficult, so you might want to consider utilizing my company’s software — Maximize My Social Security or MaxiFi Planner — to thoroughly examine your alternatives and decide your best approach for maximizing your benefits. If created with extraordinary care, Social Security calculators given by other companies or non-profits may provide accurate recommendations. Best, Larry
Is There Anything Else I Can Do With My Own Record?
Hello, Larry. After my spouse died, I began receiving Social Security survivors payments at the age of 62. I’ll be 68 this year, and I’m wondering if I’m eligible for any more benefits based on my own employment history. I thought I read something about being born before 1954, but I couldn’t remember what it said. I was born in the year 1953. Are you able to assist? Thanks, Lindsay
Hi Lindsay, I’m sad to hear about your loss. Being born before 1954 is only significant if a person is possibly eligible for both Social Security retirement benefits and spousal or divorced benefits based on the work record of a living spouse or ex-spouse. The fact that you were born before 1954 will have no bearing on your status.
If you meet the requirements, you can apply for benefits based on your own Social Security work history, but there’s no incentive to do so unless your own benefit rate is larger than the amount of your survivor benefit.
If a person applies for more than one form of Social Security benefit, they will only be paid the larger of the two benefit rates. As a result, if your own benefit rate is smaller than your survivor rate, filing for your own benefits won’t help you.
However, if you are qualified for a higher retirement benefit rate based on your own work history, you should probably wait until you are 70 to apply.
If you wait until you reach 70 to start receiving your retirement benefits, your benefit rate will increase by 8% per year until you reach 70. However, filing for benefits at the age of 70 will only aid you if your retirement benefit rate is higher than your survivor rate. By calling Social Security, you should be able to determine the amount of your individual benefit. Best, Larry
Will My Wife Be Eligible For An Additional Spousal Benefit If I File At 62?
Hello, Larry. Will my wife be eligible for an additional spousal benefit if I file early at 62? Her present benefit, which has been lowered by the WEP, is less than half of my expected benefit. Thanks, Chris
Hello, Chris. If your primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as high as her PIA, your wife may be eligible for spousal benefits in addition to her own benefits. If they begin taking benefits at full retirement age, a person’s PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate (FRA).
Even if your wife qualifies for a spousal benefit, if her non-Social Security covered pension is based on her work for a government agency (federal, state, or local), any spousal benefit she’d otherwise qualify for is likely to be offset by 2/3rds of the amount of her government pension. Because of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision, this is the case.
Furthermore, filing for benefits early may lower the amount your wife may be eligible for as a widow if you pass away before she does. My company’s software, Maximize My Social Security or MaxiFi Planner, is fully programmed to handle computations including both the WEP and GPO, so you could use it to evaluate your alternatives and find the best method for maximizing your benefits. As I mentioned in a previous inquiry, Social Security calculators produced by other companies or non-profits may provide accurate recommendations if they are carefully constructed. Best, Larry/nRead More

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