Ask Larry

Is My Wife Entitled To Any Benefits From My Record?

I am a disabled veteran drawing SSBI since 2006. I'm now 62. How does this effect my wife, shes 64, working, not drawing social security. Is she entitled to any of mine?

Hi,

I'm assuming that SSBI is a typo and you meant to say that you're receiving Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. In that case your wife could potentially qualify for spousal benefits from your record, but only if 50% of your primary insurance amount (PIA) is higher than your wife's own PIA. SSDI benefits are normally paid at 100% of a person's PIA, by the way.

Since your wife was apparently born after January 1 1954, whenever she files for either spousal benefits or her own Social Security retirement benefits she'll be deemed to be filing for both. She'll then only be paid essentially the higher of the 2 benefit rates, and her rate will be reduced for age if she starts drawing prior to her full retirement age (FRA). Also, if your wife files prior to FRA her benefits could be subject to full of partial withholding depending on how much she's earning (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/whileworking.html).

Your wife may want to consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) in order to explore and compare all of her various options so that she can determine her best possible strategy for claiming her benefits.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Jul 19 2019 - 7:21am
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.