Ask Larry

If I Collect Some Of My Ex-Husband's Benefits At Age 62 Will It Affect My SS Benefits When I Turn 70?

My ex husband is 71, I am 60. We were married 13 years. I have never remarried again.
If I collect some of his SS benefits at 62 till I turn 70 is this going to affect my SS benefits when I turn 70? Can I still collect my full retirement benefits.
Thank you Larry

Hi,

Since you were born after January 1 1954, you could never file for divorced spousal benefits on a living ex's record without also being required to file for your own benefits at the same time. So, to be clear, as long as your ex-husband is still living there is no way that you could file just for divorced spousal benefits and allow your own benefit rate to keep growing. Only people born prior to January 2 1954 are allowed to file for spousal or divorced benefits while their spouse or ex-spouse is living without also being required to file for their own benefits at the same time (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/claiming.html).

Therefore, if you file for benefits at age 62 you'll only qualify for essentially the higher of your own benefit rate or your divorced spousal rate, and your benefit amount will be reduced for age. You may want to consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze your options in order to determine your best strategy for claiming your benefits.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Aug 6 2020 - 10:28am
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