Spouse's Social Security Benefits Question

[Ciao Mickey]

I don't know if anyone knows the answer to my question, I've read the SS website and I a little confused as to the correct answer.

Say you put in for SS benefits under your own record at 62 and when your husband reaches the full retirement age of 66, he starts collecting SS.

Can you then put in for benefits under his record assuming it is a higher amount (you are entitled to half of your spouse's amount when you reach your full retirement age)?

Even though I currently work, I have a big hole in my work record (25+ years) and I am entitled to basically peanuts under my record.

 

[PelletierBears]

You only apply for your husband's benefits if he passes away before you. It wouldn't make sense for you to be able to apply for his benefits when he's collecting them himself....it would be double dipping.
You collect what you've earned while you're alive and then the surviving spouse applies for the higher monthly benefit.

That of course is until the system goes broke which is estimated to be when I hit retirement age ....

 

[NotUrsula]

If I'm interpreting your scenario correctly, there is an FAQ example on the SSA website that seems to address it exactly:

Q. My wife and I will turn age 62 soon. I am going to wait until age 65 to draw SS; my wife would like to draw SS now. Her amount will be less than 1/2 of mine. Will she still qualify for 1/2 of my earnings when I start to draw at age 65 if she starts to draw at age 62?

A. Your wife may begin her own Social Security retirement benefit any time after reaching age 62. When you begin your benefit, she will be entitled to a spouse benefit. The additional amount (if any) she will receive as a spouse is the difference between her own full retirement age benefit (i.e. the amount of her benefit before her early retirement reduction) and half of your full benefit. If she is still less than full retirement age when a spouse benefit begins, the spousal portion will be reduced for any remaining months of early retirement.

Should you predecease your wife, her own early retirement will no longer matter. She would continue to receive her own reduced benefit, but enough would be added to bring her widow entitlement up to the full benefit you would receive if still alive. The widow portion would be reduced only if she were still less than full retirement age when widow benefits began.

Does that help?

Essentially, by taking benefits before you reach full retirement age you effectively reduce both your own benefit amount and the 1/2 benefit you would receive against your husband's account -- for as long as he lives.
If he dies and you switch from a spousal benefit to a survivor's benefit the penalty for early retirement will be lifted.

PS: The reply above mine is incorrect; you ARE entitled to both collect based on one spouse's earnings while you are both still alive, and it isn't unethical double-dipping. The system was designed this way so that divorced women could still collect based on the incomes of their former spouses. (And assuming that a long-lived man had multiple long marriages, every woman he was married to for more than 10 years can collect based on his contribution account. Vice-verso for women who are married multiple times.)

 

[antmaril]

You only apply for your husband's benefits if he passes away before you. It wouldn't make sense for you to be able to apply for his benefits when he's collecting them himself....it would be double dipping.
You collect what you've earned while you're alive and then the surviving spouse applies for the higher monthly benefit.

That of course is until the system goes broke which is estimated to be when I hit retirement age ....

I agree with NotUrsula that this is incorrect.

 

[Danibelle]

You only apply for your husband's benefits if he passes away before you. It wouldn't make sense for you to be able to apply for his benefits when he's collecting them himself....it would be double dipping.
You collect what you've earned while you're alive and then the surviving spouse applies for the higher monthly benefit.

That of course is until the system goes broke which is estimated to be when I hit retirement age ....

You CAN receive spousal benefits under certain conditions. I would check with your Social Security office for your particular case as everyone has a different scenario. They can inform you of what you would receive at age 62, or full retirement age. If you file for any benefit before your full retirement, you will have that benefit reduced.

 

[AmyLand98]

You can take your benefits when you turn 62 and when you husband files later your benefits can be re-evaluated. The maximum you can receive on your husbands record while he still alive is 1/2 of his full amount. Several things have to be taken into that including your own benefits and your age. The reduction you take in your benefits would still be reduced. You cannot take a reduced benefit on your own record at 62 and then switch to his full 1/2 at your full retirement age. For example...if you benefit amount is $600 and you take it at 62 and we say it would be approximately $450 a month. You husband takes his benefits and his benefit amount is $1800 a month. If you were your full retirement age AND had not taken your benefits on your own record you could get $900 on his record. Since you would have already taken your benefits that reduction still stands. So the $900 would be reduced by the $600 from your record (even though you don't get the full $600) and then the remaining $300 would either be paid if you are your full retirement age or reduced based on the age you are when the benefit is taken. If your full retirement age is age 66 and you take the benefits at 62 if is 47 month reduction (because you qualify the first month you are 62 for the entire month not the month you actually turn 62), if your husband takes his benefit when you are 65 that portion on his record ($300 estimated) would be reduced for taking it 12 months early.

It is VERY confusing. Your best option if you still have further questions would be to contact the Social Security office. If you want information from your husband's record he would need to be with you

 

[nunzia]

Holy cow what a confusing mess...wonder if the SS officers know all the ins and outs since IRS folks seem to get as confused as we do. Nothing can be made simple...no wonder why we're in the mess we are..

 

[Danibelle]

Holy cow what a confusing mess...wonder if the SS officers know all the ins and outs since IRS folks seem to get as confused as we do. Nothing can be made simple...no wonder why we're in the mess we are..

Your Rep (at the local SS office) checks this all out when you are making your application. For example, I went in to apply (DH went with me) and they checked out both our records to make sure we were getting the proper amount. (DH was already receiving benefits). The amount quoted to you will be double checked and you will receive written notice of your benefit amount. I am sure that mistakes have been made (hopefully not many) but there is some sort of double check made before you receive your first check. If you applying at age 62, you can apply 3 months before your birthday.

This is all better explained by a Social Security Representative.

 

[RitaE]

Holy cow what a confusing mess...wonder if the SS officers know all the ins and outs since IRS folks seem to get as confused as we do. Nothing can be made simple...no wonder why we're in the mess we are..

There's an article out on bankrate right now where a Financial Adviser discusses how she had to send her own sister into the Social Security office three times until they finally found an employee who could figure out her situation correctly.

It is a confusing mess and most people are flying blind in terms of information. There are tons of free classes and seminars you can attend to try and figure it out and it is best to start well before you need to apply. Our local library holds one about once a quarter.

I'll also mention to everybody that you can now get your benefits statements (the ones they used to mail on your birthday but stopped to save money) online at

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I am sorry that I didn't explain it better but I think I found what I was looking for:

Benefit amount for a spouse
Updated 03/02/2012 12:50 PM | ID# 175

What is the benefit amount a spouse may be entitled to receive?

A spouse receives one-half of the retired worker's full benefit unless the spouse begins collecting benefits before full retirement age. If the spouse begins collecting benefits before full retirement age, the amount of the spouse's benefit is reduced by a percentage based on the number of months before he/she reaches full retirement age.

For example, based on the full retirement age of 66, if a spouse begins collecting benefits:

At age 65, the benefit amount would be about 46 percent of the retired worker's full benefit;
At age 64, it would be about 42 percent;
At age 63, 37.5 percent; and
At age 62, 35 percent.

However, if a spouse is taking care of a child who is either under age 16 or disabled and receives Social Security benefits, a spouse will get full benefits, regardless of age.

If you are eligible for both your own retirement benefit and for benefits as a spouse, we will always pay you benefits based on your record first. If your benefit as a spouse is higher than your retirement benefit, you will receive a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse's benefits.


So according to the above from the website, if I collect early I'm stuck at that level regardless of who's record I'm collecting from.

If I collect at 62 off of my own record then I will only be entitled to 35% of my husband's when he starts collecting at full retirement age. Correct?

Rats! I thought I could be bumped up to 50% of his amount once he started collecting.