When it comes to filing for Social Security, there’s much more to consider than most people tend to realize. Did you know that you can see as much as 32 percent more in a monthly benefit if you are able to delay collecting from age 66 to age 70? Are you familiar with the strategy of file and suspend? File and suspend can be a great strategy for an older married couple that would like to both put off receiving some of their benefits in return for an eventual higher payout, but also begin receiving some money now. With file and suspend, a working husband can file but suspend receiving his payments. However, now that he has filed, his homemaker wife can file for, and begin receiving, her spousal benefits, while the husband’s deferred benefit continues to grow. Sounds great, but there’s now a problem on the near horizon, courtesy of your government: Last October, Congress voted to discontinue file and suspend, effective May 1, 2016. This means that if you see file and suspend as a potential option for you, you will need to act fast.

There can be a lot to filing for Social Security in the way that is most beneficial to you, and further complicating all of this (of course) are the constant efforts by politicians at changing laws to the benefit of Uncle Sam’s tax trough. Jim Blair, a former Social Security Administrator and consultant in Social Security Benefits, gives a very comprehensive treatment to the subject of filing options and strategies in his great ebook The Social Security Retirement Guide. This digital manual is about how to make sure you’re applying for benefits in the best way possible for you (as in, MAXIMIZING your benefits as much as possible), and it’s loaded with all kinds of great information for those seeking to safely and effectively navigate the oft-times treacherous Social Security application waters. It’s important to note that the way the system is set up, you must make the right decisions the first time when completing the application, because it can be practically impossible to make changes once you’ve formally filed. There is a provision to re-file your application within 12 months of your first benefit payout, but that is the only time you may apply again for benefits in your lifetime, and, even then, the appeals process can be very daunting…so you want to do everything you can to get it right the first time.

Anyway, as if the ebook is not enough, purchasers enjoy email support for any questions they may have; considering the price of this book, just $24.95, that is a terrific, added benefit. As a matter of fact, the email contact is also a “live” link at the end of the book, so you can reach out to Blair immediately. What’s more, the product comes with a 60-day, money-back guarantee. It is these kinds of perks that take a very good product into the realm of great. If applying for Social Security benefits is anywhere on your horizon, your parents’ horizon, or that of anyone else who’s important to you, I recommend picking up a copy of The Social Security Retirement Guide as soon as possible.

 By Robert G. Yetman, Jr.