Let's see if we're a fit
You've probably heard that you should wait as long as possible to claim — that waiting until 70 maximizes your benefit and wins the optimization game. And sometimes that's true. But sometimes it isn't.
The right claiming decision depends on your health, your other income sources, your spouse's situation, and what you actually want your retirement to look like. There's no formula that captures all of that. This is one of the most consequential and personal decisions in retirement planning, and it deserves to be treated that way.
Your Social Security decision doesn't happen in isolation. It connects to your taxes, your Medicare premiums, your other income sources, and your spouse's situation. Here's what goes into getting it right.
Your health and longevity
Waiting longer makes sense if you expect a long life. Claiming earlier can make sense if your health situation or family history suggests otherwise. This is your call to make — not a generic formula's.
Your other income sources
If you have sufficient income from investments, a pension, or other sources, you may have the flexibility to wait. If you need income now, that changes the calculus entirely — and that's a legitimate reason to claim early.
Your spouse's situation
Spousal and survivor benefits add significant complexity — and opportunity. How and when you each claim affects not just your own benefit, but what your spouse receives if you pass away first.
Tax implications
Depending on your combined income, up to 85% of your Social Security benefit may be taxable. Coordinating your claiming strategy with Roth conversions and other income sources can meaningfully reduce your tax burden.
Medicare premium exposure
Higher income in certain years can trigger IRMAA surcharges — additional Medicare premiums that catch many retirees off guard. Your Social Security timing and your overall income strategy need to work together.
What you actually want
Sometimes the right answer is claiming at 62 because you want the freedom and flexibility now — even at a reduced benefit. A good life today is worth something. The math doesn't always capture that, but your plan should.
Women face a set of Social Security considerations that most generic advice doesn't address. Career gaps, longer life expectancies, and the reality of outliving a spouse all affect how you should think about this decision.
The rules around spousal, survivor, and divorce benefits are among the most underutilized — and most valuable — in the entire Social Security system. Understanding how they apply to your situation can make a significant difference over the course of a long retirement.
Spousal benefits
If you're married, you may be eligible for up to 50% of your spouse's benefit — even if you never worked or had lower lifetime earnings. How and when each of you claims affects both benefits.
Survivor benefits
If your spouse passes away, you may be eligible to receive their full benefit. This is one of the most important reasons the higher earner should consider waiting — it directly protects the surviving spouse.
Divorce benefits
If you were married for at least 10 years, you may be able to claim benefits based on your ex-spouse's work record — without affecting their benefit or their current spouse's benefit.
Longevity planning
Women statistically outlive men by several years. A Social Security strategy that looks optimal at 65 may look very different at 85. Your plan needs to account for a potentially long retirement.
I've written about Social Security decisions for women for years. A few articles worth reading if you want to go deeper.
When should I take Social Security?
It's much more than a math problem. A look at the real factors that should shape your claiming decision — and why the right answer is different for everyone.
Read the article →
Social Security overview for women
A foundational look at how Social Security works — how your benefit is calculated, when you can claim, and why this decision deserves careful thought.
Read the article →
Can you collect spousal benefits if you remarry?
The rules around ex-spouse Social Security benefits are more flexible than most people realize. What divorced women need to know about eligibility and remarriage.
Read the article →
When you're ready to think through the timing, the spousal and survivor considerations, and how it all connects to your broader retirement plan — I'm here for that conversation.
Let's see if we're a fit