My husband was the primary wage earner and is planning to collect SS at age 70. I’m two and half years younger and would like to start collecting at age 62 under my own work history and then switch to spousal benefit at age 67 (after husband has started collecting). Will my spousal benefit be reduced based on the SS that I received from age 62-67

Hi. No. Whenever you start drawing your own Social Security retirement benefits, those benefits will continue for the rest of your life. And, if you start them before your full retirement age (FRA), the resulting reduction for age will continue for as long as both you and your husband are living.

You can't start your own benefits at age 62 and later switch to drawing spousal benefits instead. What you can do, though, is start your own benefits early and then file for an excess spousal benefit once your husband starts drawing his benefits. The excess spousal amount, if any, would only be reduced for age if your husband starts drawing his benefits before you reach FRA.

For example, say Joy files for her Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. Joy's PIA, which is equal to the amount she'd be eligible for if she started drawing her benefits at full retirement age (FRA), is $600. But, Joy's benefit rate is reduced for age to $422 because she's claiming her benefits at age 62. Several years later Joy's spouse applies for his benefits, and his PIA is $2000. Joy's unreduced excess spousal benefit would then be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA, which in Joy's case amounts to $400 (i.e. $2000/2 - $600). If Joy is at least FRA when she becomes eligible for her excess spousal benefit, she would then be paid the full unreduced excess spousal amount of $400 in addition to her own reduced rate of $422 to give her a combined rate of $822. But, if Joy isn't yet FRA when her husband claims his benefit, then her spousal amount would also be reduced for age based on Joy's age at the time her husband claims his benefits.

It sounds like you and your husband should strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully compare and analyze all of your various options so that you can determine the best overall strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry