Hello Larry, I will be turning 62 June 2018 and my husband is 82 ; a 20 year difference and married 35 years . I talked to Social Security office and they told me I would get $682 of my own social security benefit plus I would have to take a spousal benefit which would be $200 adding up to $862 a month if I start collecting at 62 . I told them I want to wait until my full retirement age of 66 and 4 months to take a spousal benefit and was told I could not. Also, I was told if my husband passes way I would get his amount of social security on the day he died if I was at full retirement age or a reduce rate if I wasn't. I called again to Social Security a week ago and got a different answer saying I could wait until 66 and 4 months to get my spousal benefit. Since I can't get a straight answer from them I would really appreciate any advice you could offer me. Thank you .

Hi,

You can wait until your full retirement age (FRA) in order to receive unreduced spousal benefits, but you couldn't draw you own retirement benefits before then and switch to spousal benefits at FRA if that's what you had in mind. Whenever you file for either your retirement benefits or spousal benefits, you'll be deemed to be filing for both benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/claiming.html?intcmp=AE-RET-PLRT-REL...). You'll basically just receive the higher of the 2 rates and your rate will be reduced if you start drawing before FRA.

Regardless of when you file for retirement and spousal benefits, you can switch to widow's benefits if your husband dies before you. You would then receive his full benefit rate instead of your own, assuming his rate is higher. But, if your husband dies before you reach FRA your widow's rate would be subject to reduction for age if you choose to start drawing the widow's benefits before FRA. That may not actually reduce your widow's rate, though, if your husband started drawing his benefits before FRA.

You should strongly consider using our maximization software to compare your options in order to determine the filing strategy that you believe is best.

Best, Jerry