Subject: Re: What's worse than lottery tickets?
article several years ago ... The lower-earner should take benefits at 62, increasing money available to do stuff (like travel). Then the higher earner would take them at 70.



That worked years ago but not anymore.

"Q: Can I delay my Social Security retirement but collect spousal benefits?"
"A: No. The 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act requires you to file for both of these Social Security benefits at the same time."



When one spouse expires, the surviving spouse can opt to retain the higher benefit payout of the two.

There is no "opt". The SSA will automatically assign the higher benefit to the surviving spouse.