• How to take advantage of the 8% delayed retirement credits that could increase your retirement benefit by as much as 32% at age 70^[3]
• How a spouse may qualify to receive four years of spousal benefits while both spouses receive their 8% Delayed Retirement Credits
• A spouse is entitled to the higher of his/her benefit or 50% of the spouse’s benefit
• Never worked? You may still qualify under your spouse’s record and get up to 50% of your spouse’s benefit ^[4]
• Need a lump sum of cash? You may find it in your Social Security Retirement Income Benefit.
• If married for at least 10 years divorced spouses may be entitled to benefits based on an ex-spouse’s earnings record^[5]
• If you can afford to wait and are healthy you likely should wait to file for your Social Security Retirement Benefit

Maximizing your Social Security benefits may significantly improve your monthly retirement income.  

^[1]Source (June 28, 2012):  The Urban Institute.  Social Security:  Trends and Business Cycle Effects, page 20.

^[2]Source (June 25, 2012):  The Urban Institute.  Social Security:  Trends and Business Cycle Effects, page 20.  http://www.urban.org/publications/412521.html

^[3]www.ssa.gov/retire2/wep-examples.htm; See under “If You Choose Delayed Retirement”

^[4]Source:  http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/quickcalc/spouse.html

^[5]Source (5/10/12):  http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/divspouse.htm