Social Security Filing Age Worksheet
Six questions that reveal your best filing window.
Six questions that reveal your best filing window.
1. Your numbers
From ssa.gov: your benefit at 62 = $______ · at FRA = $______ · at 70 = $______. Do the same for your spouse.
2. Health honesty
On a 1–10 scale, how do you rate your health today? Your spouse's? Family longevity — did parents reach 85+? (Yes / No / Mixed)
3. Bridge income
If you delay filing, can other income cover the gap? Pension $______ · Part-time work $______ · Portfolio withdrawal $______
4. Survivor math
If you (the higher earner) pass first, the survivor keeps your check. Multiply the difference between filing at 62 vs 70 by your spouse's expected remaining years.
5. Tax bracket
Filing while still working means up to 85% of the benefit is taxable AND you may hit the earnings limit before FRA. Are you still working? (Yes / No)
6. Your gut number
Before doing any math — what age were you leaning toward? Write it down. If the worksheet points somewhere else, the gap is the conversation to have.
Bring this filled out to any planner conversation. It compresses six weeks of thinking into one page.
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