Ask Larry

If I Start Drawing My Benefits At Age 62 Can I Switch To My Husband's Benefits When He Starts Drawing?

Hi Larry. If I will receive the Social Security Benefits at 62 years old, can I swish to my husband Social Security Benefits, when he will receive.
If yes how much % I will receive form my husband Social Security Benefits?
Thank you very much.
Larissa

Hi Larissa. You can't switch from your own benefits to a spousal benefit, but you might be able to qualify for an excess (i.e. partial) spousal benefit in addition to your own benefit when your husband starts drawing his benefits. However, you'll only qualify for excess spousal benefits if your husband's primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as much as your PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA).

For example, say Mary files for her Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. Mary's PIA is $800, but Mary's benefit rate is reduced for age to $563. Several years later Mary's husband applies for his benefits, and his PIA is $2000. Mary's unreduced excess spousal benefit would then be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA, which in Mary's case amounts to $200 (i.e. $2000/2 - $800). If Mary is at least full retirement age (FRA) when she becomes eligible for the excess spousal benefit, she would then be paid the unreduced excess spousal amount of $200 in addition to her own reduced rate of $563 to give her a combined rate of $763. But, if Mary becomes eligible for spousal benefits prior to FRA, her spousal rate would also be reduced for age.

Before deciding when to start drawing your benefits, you may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze the options available to you in order to determine your best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry

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Posted: 
Jul 15 2021 - 6:15pm
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