Last week, I was cleaning out my email inbox and answered lots of miscellaneous questions in one column. Today, I'll dig even farther down in that mailbag and, once again, squeeze in as many questions and answers as my column space will permit.

Q: I am 66 years old. My wife is 40. I would like to sign up for my Social Security now because I am not in the best of health, and we could use the money. But because I will likely be gone when my wife reaches Social Security age, I want to maximize future widow's benefits for her. Is it true that if I wait until age 70 to collect benefits, and thus get the 32 percent bonus, that her widow's rate also will include that extra money?

A: Yes, it is true that your wife's future widow's benefit would include the extra bonus percentage you get for delaying your retirement until 70. But even though I am not a financial planner, and I certainly am not a marriage counselor, I really think you should think twice about your Social Security plans. I personally think you should concentrate more on your current financial situation and not so much on what might be the case 25 years down the road. I'd recommend you take your Social Security benefits now and enjoy the fruits of your labors while you still can. And I've got to be honest with you. It sounds like your wife will still be relatively young when you are gone. Do you really think she will remain unmarried for the rest of her life? And if she does remarry (before she is 60), she won't be due a nickel of your Social Security. I'm just trying to give you some food for thought.

Q: I am a single man who just retired. I am turning 62 next June. I was married once, and my wife died many years ago. I've decided I'm going to take reduced benefits at age 62. When should I apply for my Social Security?

A: Normally, I would tell you to file for benefits about two or three months before your birthday. But you may have another option. Even though your wife died many years ago, if she worked and paid into the Social Security system, there is a pretty good chance you are due reduced widower's benefits already. If you think you can live on whatever the amount is (and it might surprise you how much it is), then you could claim those benefits until age 66 and at that point switch to 100 percent of your retirement benefit. Or you could wait until 70 and switch to 132 percent. Because you are widowed, you are not impacted by the elimination of the "file and restrict" rules in the new budget bill.

Q: I am about to turn 66 and went to my Social Security office about a week ago to apply for benefits. The Social Security clerk asked about dependents. My wife is only 60 and won't be in my Social Security picture for a couple years. And all of our children are grown. However, I didn't mention a younger son I have by another woman. I am not proud of what I did, but I fathered a child out of wedlock. He is 10 years old. I send monthly support payments to the mother. Was I required to mention that kid on my Social Security application?

A: Yes you were. You should contact your local Social Security office as soon as possible and tell them you need to amend your application. Because that child is your son, he is legally entitled to Social Security benefits from your account. The Social Security office will contact the mother and have her file on behalf of her/your son. He is going to get an amount equal to 50 percent of your full age-66 benefit. It won't take any money away from what you get. But if your wife files on your record in a couple years, it may cut down on the amount of money she gets. (The law sets a maximum limit that can be paid to family members on a retiree's account.)

Q: I am my husband's sixth wife. I don't mean he has five other wives! I mean he was married five times before. He is divorced from four of them. The other wife died. Am I going to get any of his Social Security? If so, will I have to split it five ways?

A: Assuming you are still married to him when he applies for Social Security, you would qualify for benefits on his record: If you are at least 62 years old; if you are not working; and if you are not due higher benefits on your own Social Security record. One or more on his ex-wives might also qualify for benefits if they were married at least 10 years and if they haven't remarried and if they aren't due higher benefits on their own Social Security accounts. If any of the exes qualify for benefits, it won't reduce what you are due on his account.

Q: I am 64 years old. I get Social Security, and so does my 14-year-old daughter and 45-year-old wife. We live in Los Angeles. There is a pretty good chance my daughter will get an acting job on a TV show. She could make a six-figure income. Will this affect our Social Security checks?

A: It won't impact your own Social Security benefit, but your wife and daughter will lose their monthly checks. Your daughter won't be due benefits because it sounds like she will be making more (WAY more) than the Social Security earnings limit of $15,720. Your wife is getting what are called "young mother's benefits." And the only reason she gets those checks is because she is caring for a child who qualifies for benefits on your account. So if your daughter is no longer eligible for dependent benefits on your record, your wife will no longer be eligible either.

If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has the answer. Contact him at thomas.margenau@comcast.net. To find out more about Tom Margenau and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

 Photo by: Quadell