Three Ways to Raise Your Benefits

A quick tutorial on how to maximize your Social Security Benefits.

Claim now and claim more later. If your spouse collects benefits and you have reached your normal retirement age, you may choose to collect spousal benefits only, then apply for benefits based on your own work record later.

File and suspend. You can file for Social Security benefits to allow your husband or wife to collect spousal benefits, then immediately suspend your application so that you can continue to accumulate delayed-retirement credits and collect a larger benefit later.

Pay them back and start over. Sorry you elected to take retirement benefits too soon? You can pay back the money interest-free and reapply for a bigger benefit at an older age.

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