My question involves the spousal benefit and I've searched the internet to no avail for a straight answer to this. If I am the higher earning spouse and I decide to take my social security benefit before my FRA, is my wife's spousal benefit based on what my PIA would have been at FRA rather than my reduced benefit amount (because I started before FRA)? You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find a straightforward, simple answer to this!

Hi,

On Spousal Benefits...
I just started collecting SS at age 64 (birth year 1955) and am no longer working. My husband is still working and is at FRA of 67 (birth year 1952). He plans to work til age 70 then begin collecting his SS. He's afraid to begin collecting his spousal benefit now (half of my my SS) because he's worried it will affect his own SS benefits age 70. Can you please give us a solid and true answer on this for his peace of mind! Also will he need to go into a SS office and file a restricted application for this benefit?

Hi,

I just turned 64 (Sept), most years exceeded the SS maximum salry, and plan to wait until 70 to start collecting Social Security. My wife will be 62 is April and was for the most part a stay at home mother. She did work enough that her April 2020 SS will be around $725/mo. My plan is to have her start collecting at 62. When I turn 70, she will be 66 yrs, 5 mo. At that point, will her SS change to be 1/2 of mine? Thank you

Hi,

What recourse do I have? I called SSA only to be told that at my FRA (in a few weeks as I was born pre-1954) that a restricted application on my husband's benefit would be 50% of what he is currently getting (based on his claiming at at 62). SSA Rep did not give any credence to what you advised (in your email of 7/6/19; and confirmed with what I've read from other resources), that such an application would be based on my husband's PIA (to include COLAs since he began benefits).

I am 67 and have been receiving my late wife's benefit since I turned 66.I suspended my benefit.My present wife turns 66 in August of 2017. Can she file on my suspended benefit?

Hi,

I TURN 65 IN DEC, CAN I DRAW ON SPOUCEAL HE WILL BE 66 IN JAN. WRIGHT NOW HE IS ON DISABILITY. WE HAVE MARRIED FOR 48 YEARS BUT WE HAVE SEPARATED FOR 15 OR 16 YEARS. I AM ON SSI BECAUSE I HAD 2 STROKES AND HEART TROUBLE. HE MAKES 1944.A MO.

Hi,

Hi Larry.....I turned 66 in June, 2016 and my Social Security Disability switched over to my regular Social Security benefit of $682.00 a month. My husband's benefit after paying Medicare is $1,478.00 a month. I had heard I could apply for a spousal benefit and wait until 70 to collect my own Social Security benefit. I called the Local Social Security Office and they said no that it automatically converted to my regular benefit. Is this true and is there anything I could do to change it if is not true?

Thank You, Carol

Dear Larry,

My wife and I are both retired. She is 64 and I am 71 and have been collecting SS since age 64. She is not collecting SS. We plan on waiting until she is 70 for her to file. Can she claim spousal benefits now? Does she need to wait until her FRA of 66? Will this affect her retirement amount? My SS is approximately $2000. Hers will be more since we are waiting until 70.

Best, Steve

I applied for benefits in December of 2015. But I don't know what I would get, SSI/SSDI. I'm married, but been separated for 9 years. He lives in a different city then I do. And we have 2 children, whom one is grown and we have a 16 year old. She lives with me, I looked on the web. And from what it says, I'm eligible for both. What is my situation if we are still married, but live separate lives in different cities? I don't have no income, just waiting on my disability.

Hi,

My wife is 63 and I am 60. If my wife takes early social security and claims her own reduced benefit for the next 6 years, until I reach FRA, will she qualify for the 50% spousal benefit at that time? Does her spousal benefit get reduced by some amount if she claims her benefit before reaching FRA?