I was born in 12-1952. I filed SSA on 9-2017. I received 1st SSA check on Feb. 2018. My primary amount is $1700
My spouse was born in 2/1957, filed SSA on 11-2018, got 1st SSA check on Mar. 2019. Full amount is $2800.
Can I suspense my SSA and receive my spouse 50% of $2800 (= $1400) until I get 70 years old?
Thanks, Larry.

Hi,

No. If you wouldn't have filed for your own benefits you could have filed just for spousal benefits only when your husband started drawing his benefits, and then you could have filed on your own record at age 70. But, once you apply for your own Social Security retirement benefits those benefits become your primary benefit for life regardless of whether or not you suspend your benefits. You can't subsequently qualify for any other type of benefit (e.g. spousal, survivor) unless the other benefit rate is higher than your own rate.

Even if you suspend your own benefits, if you file for spousal benefits now your spousal rate would be calculated by subtracting your primary insurance amount (PIA) from 50% of your husband's PIA. And, since that amount would apparently be negative in your case, your claim would be disallowed.

Best, Jerry