If your spouse is likely to outlive you, upon your passing he/she will be able to trade in their lower Social Security payments for your bigger checks. For example, my wife and I are both in good health. But looking at family histories, and because women usually outlive men, my best guess is that she’ll survive me. I figure I’m good to maybe 80-85. Were I alone, I’d start drawing ASAP. But she could easily see 95 or 100. When I die she’ll have the option of switching from her benefit to mine. Since mine will be larger, that’s what she’ll do. To maximize that check for her, I’ll delay taking my
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