Mike and Al tackles advanced, often-missed scenarios like coordinating survivor benefits, divorced-spouse rules (10-year marriage requirement), and how claiming choices affect a widow(er)’s long-term income. They walk through sequencing strategies that blend delayed retirement credits with IRA/Roth withdrawals to reduce lifetime taxes and IRMAA surcharges. Special edge cases - public pensions triggering WEP/GPO, filing while self-employed, and timing around earnings tests get practical do’s and don’ts. The takeaway: optimize Social Security at the household level by integrating benefits with tax, healthcare, and estate planning, not by treating it as a one-and-done decision.

<p>Mike and Al tackles advanced, often-missed scenarios like coordinating survivor benefits, divorced-spouse rules (10-year marriage requirement), and how claiming choices affect a widow(er)&rsquo;s long-term income. They walk through sequencing strategies that blend delayed retirement credits with IRA/Roth withdrawals to reduce lifetime taxes and IRMAA surcharges. Special edge cases - public pensions triggering WEP/GPO, filing while self-employed, and timing around earnings tests get practical do&rsquo;s and don&rsquo;ts. The takeaway: optimize Social Security at the household level by integrating benefits with tax, healthcare, and estate planning, not by treating it as a one-and-done decision.</p>