Spousal Benefits

I've been married since 1987. As far as I know we have never been legally separated or divorced. We parted ways in 2003 not keeping in touch with other. I recently received a text from him telling me that he is living in Virginia and that we are still married. The reason that we split up was 1. He was always running around 2. He had a bad drug habit 3. I was sick and was missing a lot of work. It put us in a financial bind.
I've been on SSI since approximately 2010 I believe. I am 55 yrs old and he will be 59 this yr.

I was under the impression that my social security benefit would be automatically adjusted to be half my husband's. Would the fact that l took mine a year early affect that, or did l misunderstand?

Hi,

Yes, if you start drawing your own Social Security retirement benefits before full retirement age (FRA) you're stuck with the resulting rate reduction even if you later become entitled to an additional spousal benefit.

I am 63 and plan to wait until 70 to file for social security benefits. My wife just turned 62 and has a projected full benefit that is less than half of mine. If she files now to take her reduced benefits, when I turn 70 can she get her full spousal benefit or will it also be reduced?

If my wife starts drawing on her social security now (about $1300/month) can she still get a spousal benefit when I start drawing at age 70 (about $3400/month). 50% of my draw will be higher then hers.

Hi,

Maybe, but only if 50% of your primary insurance amount (PIA) is higher than your wife's own PIA. A person's PIA is equal to the amount that they'd receive based on their own work record if they started drawing at full retirement age (FRA).

Hello Mr. Kotlikoff,

I was born Dec.1953 my Soc. Sec will be about 1/2 of my wives, she was born March 1955. She is still working but I want to start to collect Dec 2019 I'll be 66. Is it possible for me to collect half of hers even if she hasn't filed. Because I would like to take my own SS at age 70 to get a higher amount. But my wife doesn't want to retire until she is about 68 in which I will be almost 70. So simple question is can I start to take 1/2 hers if she hasn't started to collect. She has reached the max at $2600 Thank You Bob

Hi Bob,

My wife is 63 collecting SS disability I am 66 working with higher income could I collect spousal SS while I am still working

Hi,

Hi,
My husband is full retirement age (DOB 9/17/52) and has not yet begun receiving any Social Security. I will be 62 this December and I do not plan to file for any benefits at that time. Is it possible for my husband to file a restricted application in December and receive benefits as my spouse? Thank you

Hi,

I am 73 and still working, am I entitled some of my husbands SS, he is also still working? He hasn't taken it yet but, just wondering, he is going to be 70, when must he take it? FYI- I've been collecting since I was 62 years of age..
If there is a fee for this question, I will opt out and call SS

Hi,

We don't charge a fee to answer questions.

I am having trouble understanding which formula is used to calculate spousal benefits, if spouse retires early. Here is an example. Assume both spouses' FRA is 67, wife's PIA is $800, and husband's PIA is $2,000. Now if wife retires at 67, and husband is already retired, then I understand wife would get 800 + 200 = 1,000, which is 50% of husband's PIA.