I started collecting SS at age 62. My husband is four years younger than me. He started collecting at age 68. I'm told I can increase my ss benefit and will receive 50% of what he's collecting. How do I do this?
Thank you.

Hi. You can call Social Security to apply for spousal benefits, but you'll only qualify for spousal benefits if your husband's primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as much as your own PIA. Even if you do qualify for spousal benefits, though, you won't get a full 50% of your husband's benefit amount. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA), so your spousal rate wouldn't be based on your husband's age 68 rate that includes delayed retirement credits. And, if you do qualify for spousal benefits, you'll still be stuck with the reduction for age that applies to your own benefit rate.

For example, say Amy filed for her benefits at age 62. Amy's primary insurance amount (PIA), or full retirement age rate, would be $1,000, but Amy's rate is reduced for age to $750. Five years later, Amy's husband, Bill, files for his benefits when he turns age 70. Bill's PIA is $2,000, but with delayed retirement credits his monthly benefit rate is increased to $2,640. However, even though Bill's monthly rate is more than 3 times as much as Amy's rate (i.e. $2640 vs. $750), Amy isn't eligible for any spousal benefits because Bill's PIA isn't more than twice as much as Amy's PIA. If Amy applied for spousal benefits, her unreduced spousal rate would be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA, which in Amy's case is zero (i.e. $2000/2 - $1000).

Best, Jerry