I started receiving Social Security due to small amount i receive also spousal benefit 199.00 to have combined approx half of my husbands. Now I can apply to receive my Social Security from Germany which is only 95.00
I don't want to lose what i worked for in Germany.
And have to report 95.00 to Social Security here? I should still be able to keep spousal benefit, ? since half of spouse for me is 600.00 total
.because of spouse Social Security increase.
Thank you so much for your reply.
Romy

Hi Romy. Yes, you must report to Social Security that you've started receiving a pension from Germany, assuming that the pension is based on your own work and earnings. If that's the case, then your own Social Security retirement benefit amount could be reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). But, since you're eligible for spousal benefits, if your own benefit rate is reduced due to WEP, then your spousal benefit will increase. The increase in your spousal rate should offset most if not all of the reduction in your own benefit rate.

If you started drawing U.S. Social Security benefits at full retirement age (FRA) or later, then your German pension should result in no more than a $1 reduction in your combined U.S. benefit rate. But, if you started drawing your U.S. benefits before FRA then your combined rate could go down a bit more than $1.

Best, Jerry