I was born in 1959. My husband was born in 1963. If I start taking my Social Security of $950 now will I be able to get spousal benefits when my husband turns 70. His income is much higher than mine and will be eligible for about $3500 when he turns 70.

Hi. Based on the amounts stated in your question you'd likely qualify for at least some spousal benefits when your husband starts drawing his benefits, but the amount of your spousal benefit might be substantially less than you think.

Once you file for your own Social Security retirement benefits, those benefits continue for life. You can't choose to switch from drawing your own benefits to drawing a spousal benefit instead. You could start drawing your own benefits now and then file for a partial, or excess, spousal benefit when your husband claims his benefits, but you'll only qualify for an excess spousal benefit if your husband's primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as much as your own 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).

If you start drawing your retirement benefits prior to your full retirement age (FRA), the resulting reduction for age that applies to your benefit rate will continue for as long as both you and your husband are still living. That's true even if you later qualify for an excess spousal benefit.

For example, say Joy files for her Social Security retirement benefits at age 63. Joy's PIA, which is equal to the amount she'd be eligible for if she started drawing her benefits at full retirement age (FRA), is $1200. But, Joy's benefit rate is reduced for age to $910 because she's claiming her benefits at age 63. Several years later Joy's spouse applies for his benefits, and his PIA is $2800. Joy's unreduced excess spousal benefit would then be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA, which in Joy's case amounts to $200 (i.e. $2800/2 - $1200). If Joy is at least FRA when she becomes eligible for her excess spousal benefit, she would then be paid the full unreduced excess spousal amount of $200 in addition to her own reduced rate of $910 to give her a combined rate of $1110.

It sounds like you and your husband should strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze all of your various options so that you can determine the best overall strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry