Can I collect ex-spouse Social Security at FRA while my own benefits grow until 70?

Yes, you absolutely can do this! Since you were born before January 2, 1954, you're still eligible for the restricted application strategy. You can collect your ex-spouse benefit now (50% of his FRA amount) while letting your own retirement benefit grow until 70. And don't worry - claiming on his record has zero impact on his benefits. He'll never even know you filed. The earnings test doesn't apply to you anymore since you're past your FRA, so your income won't reduce your ex-spouse benefits. This is a smart strategy for maximizing your lifetime benefits!

my sister tried this but they said she couldnt do it because of some cutoff date for that strategy. something about being born after 1954? better double check before counting on it

The previous response contains incorrect information. Based on your birth year (being 67 in 2025 means you were born in 1957/1958), you were born AFTER the January 2, 1954 cutoff date for restricted applications. This means you CANNOT file only for ex-spouse benefits while letting your own continue to grow. Due to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, anyone born on or after January 2, 1954 is subject to deemed filing rules even after reaching FRA. When you file for any benefit, you'll be deemed to have filed for all benefits you're eligible for, and you'll receive whichever is higher (your own or the ex-spouse benefit). In your case, since your own benefit is higher, there's no advantage to filing for ex-spouse benefits now. Your best strategy is likely still to wait until 70 to maximize your own retirement benefit.

THIS IS WHY SOCIAL SECURITY IS SO FRUSTRATING!!! The rules keep changing and they don't make it clear to regular people. My brother-in-law got to do this restricted application thing but his younger sister (only 2 years younger!) couldn't because of that 1954 cutoff. It's RIDICULOUS how they keep moving the goalposts!!! That 2015 budget act was a sneaky way to cut benefits without calling it a cut. They should have grandfathered more people in or at least done better education about the changes.

I had a similar situation last year when figuring out my filing strategy. If you're still working full-time making $98k, you might consider whether you really need the Social Security income right now anyway. By waiting until 70, your monthly benefit will be 24% higher than at your FRA, and that higher amount will be the basis for any future cost-of-living adjustments. Plus, if you're still working, taking SS now might push you into a higher tax bracket where up to 85% of your benefits would be taxable. In my case, I decided to keep working until 69 and then filed. Maximizing that monthly amount gives me peace of mind for my later years when healthcare costs might increase.

My cousin tried to call for HOURS about this exact issue and kept getting busy signals or disconnected. She finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to SSA in like 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Worth it to get a definitive answer about your options from SSA directly. My cousin found out she had an additional filing option because of her specific work history that none of us had considered.

I think everyone's making this more complicated than it needs to be. If you're making good money and don't need the SS now, just wait till 70. That's what my financial advisor told me to do. The 3 extra years of growth is worth it in the long run especially if you have family history of longevity.

To correct my earlier mistake: Since you were born after 1/2/1954, you can't do a restricted application. However, if your ex-spouse benefit would be higher than your own benefit (which seems unlikely from your numbers), you could claim now and then switch to your own at 70. But since your own benefit is higher, you're better off waiting. One consideration: If you have health concerns that might impact longevity, waiting to 70 might not be optimal. The general breakeven age is around 82-83 - if you live beyond that, waiting to 70 pays off.