Social Security: The Best and Worst Years To Be Born

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

17. I was born in 1948,

and did not start collecting my own SS until age 70. I was a stay at home mom for 25 years so I wound up with working and paying in 29 years.

I was able to collect on my ex's at age 65 (getting 50% of what his amount would be at his full retirement age), then switch over to my own at age 70. If he dies before me I become one of his two widows, and will then get 50% of his SS. He waited until age 70 himself to start collecting, so while I don't know how much his payment actually is, I can guess.

It seems to me that working even retail or fast food for a while so as to delay collecting SS as long as possible might be a good idea. For one thing, since the increases when they occur, are a percentage, it's an even bigger increase, the higher your check is.