For over a decade, a strategy knows as “file and suspend” was a popular way to gain a larger bump in Social Security benefits with one spouse taking restricted benefits while the other deferred until a later age. But recent rule changes have removed the ability to take advantage of the loophole with an April 29th deadline for filing. But some seniors seeking to beat the deadline have complained of being given bad information about their ability to file. Some couples have been told, erroneously, that they do not qualify while others have been turned away for filing before their birthday even though they would still qualify. As a result of these worries, the Social Security Administration has taken steps to offer additional training to employees as well as issuing emergency memos that explain the exact requirements for applicants. With two months to go let us hope that these steps will get things flowing smoothly for seniors again.
See Anne Tergesen, Older Americans Say Social Security Is Giving Them Wrong Information, The Wall Street Journal, February 25, 2016.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
