Scott's SS Inputs
SS starts: 2056 · Monthly: —
Courtney's SS Inputs
SS starts: 2053 · Monthly: —
Global Assumptions
Claiming Factor Reference
| Age | Factor | Scott Monthly | Scott Annual | Courtney Monthly | Courtney Annual |
|---|
Scott — Breakeven Analysis
Courtney — Breakeven Analysis
Scott — PV Lifetime Analysis
| Claim Age | Start | Monthly | Total Nominal | PV (discounted) |
|---|
Courtney — PV Lifetime Analysis
| Claim Age | Start | Monthly | Total Nominal | PV (discounted) |
|---|
⚠ ACA Cliff Impact of Early SS Claiming (Before Medicare 2051)
Up to 85% of SS benefits count as MAGI for ACA subsidy purposes. Claiming before Medicare (age 65, 2051) can push over the cliff and eliminate Premium Tax Credits (~$15k–20k/yr in lost subsidies).
| Year | ACA Cliff (HH3) | SS If Both Claim 62 | 85% Taxable SS | +Base MAGI ($95k) | Status |
|---|
✓ Your plan (Scott 70 / Courtney FRA) starts SS in 2053+ — after Medicare at 2051. No ACA cliff risk.
Survivor Benefit Analysis
The surviving spouse receives the HIGHER of their own benefit or the deceased spouse's benefit.
⚠ Spousal Benefit Coordination Rule (post-2015 deemed filing)
Courtney cannot receive the spousal enhancement until Scott has filed for his own benefit.
Under deemed filing rules (anyone born after Jan 1, 1954), filing for your own benefit is
automatic — restricted applications and file-and-suspend strategies no longer exist.
Practical impact: If Scott claims at 70 and Courtney claims at 62, Courtney gets only her own reduced benefit (≈70% of PIA) from ages 62–70, then may upgrade to the higher of her own or spousal once Scott files. The PV grid below models this coordination correctly.
Confirmed by: SSA POMS GN 00204.030 (deemed filing); Bipartisan Budget Act 2015 §831.
Practical impact: If Scott claims at 70 and Courtney claims at 62, Courtney gets only her own reduced benefit (≈70% of PIA) from ages 62–70, then may upgrade to the higher of her own or spousal once Scott files. The PV grid below models this coordination correctly.
Confirmed by: SSA POMS GN 00204.030 (deemed filing); Bipartisan Budget Act 2015 §831.
Couples Joint PV Grid — All Claiming Age Combinations
Total household lifetime PV (discounted) across every Scott × Courtney claiming-age pair.
Includes spousal benefit (Courtney gets max of own vs 50% of Scott's PIA — only after Scott files),
survivor benefit (100% of higher earner after death), and COLA growth.
Assumes Scott dies at 85 · Courtney lives to 90 · Scott age 40 in 2026.
■ Optimal · ■ Within 2% · ■ Your plan
Recommendation — Matches Your Boldin Plan