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Questions I’m Asked Over and Over Again

As couples reach retirement age, they tend to have social security questions.
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Questions I’m Asked Over and Over Again
Married couple discusses their social security benefits. Inside Creative House/Shutterstock
Tom Margenau
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In the 28 years I’ve been writing this column, I bet I’ve written 128 columns about the most common questions I get. However, I suppose not everyone is clipping those columns and pasting them into their Social Security scrapbook, because I keep getting the same questions repeatedly. Here comes column number 129, with answers to some of the questions I am most frequently asked.

Q: I’m 62. My husband is 67 and getting Social Security. Can I file for spousal benefits on his record now and save my own until I’m 70?

Tom Margenau
Tom Margenau
Author
Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSA’s public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” If you have a Social Security question, contact him at [email protected]