My wife is 70 and I am 60 she has never worked. At what age will I have to be for her to draw off my social security ? Thanks,Don Look forward to an answer

My wife is 66 and I am 62. I am the high wage earner. My wife will be taking FRA In March at age 66, 10 months. If I take early benefits at 65 will she qualify for the full 50% spousal benifit of my reduced claim? Should I wait till 67 for her to get the full 50%? Thanks.

I will be turning 65 in February and want to know if I can draw Social Security on my husband? He is still living....I have been disabled all my life due to 3 automobile accidents. I’ve never felt sorry for myself. Thank You

Hi Larry, My question is regarding spousal benefit calculations. I have a pretty good handle on the calcualation itself and how it works my question is how is the PIA figured on the higher earner if they haven't retired yet and the spouse is looking to file for spousal benefits when they do. Is the PIA figured in current dollars or future dollars when the person actually is 67 ?

Hi, I have a quick question about Excess Spousal Benefits. If I draw spousal benefits early will my benefit be reduced due to not waiting until I am 66 1/2? I was told it would. When I asked what the percent was that it was reduced by I was told the rep did not know. she said she enters it into a software program and it just tells her the amount I would draw. She said i am eligible to up to the full 50% of PIA if I were to waiting until age 66 1/2, but we may not be able to wait that long.

can I get SS and or medicare/medicade benefits from my husband"s SS contributions. He is 54 and working. I am 70 and retired without enough SS credits

Hi. Your husband would have to be drawing his Social Security retirement or disability benefits in order for you to be able to get Social Security spousal benefits. You could qualify for premium-free Part A of Medicare when your husband turns age 62, though, even if he's not yet collecting his benefits.

Hi Larry,
My husband and I are very perplexed about Spousal Benefits at the moment.

I was told exactly what you just described in your example of a couple. The wife started receiving benefits at 62 on her own work record, her PIA was 600 but she received 400 because of starting early. Her husband began drawing on his social security at 70. His PIA was 2000.

You gave the exact calculation on how to determine what her Spousal Benefit would be. I was given the exact calculation by a Social Security Representative when I was 62.

My husband and I (married over 30 years) are both collecting government pensions (he was a cop, I was a teacher). He started collecting his own very small social security check when he turned 62 ($320).He is now 76. His benefit was subject to WEP. I will be 62 in Jan 2022; I am debating whether to start drawing my own social security at that time. Using the WEP calculator on the Social Security website shows I would get a monthly benefit of about $1000. How might my husband’s spousal benefit be calculated if I file at 62? I think he will be subject to GPO, but I’m not sure.

My husband and I were both born in 53. We both took Social Security at age 62. Can I apply for benefits from him?

Hi. You can certainly apply for spousal benefits, but I can't tell you whether or not your qualify for them. Assuming that your husband is still living, you'll only qualify for spousal benefits if your own primary insurance amount (PIA) is less than 50% of your husband's 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).

Best, Jerry

Hi Larry
As a retired CFP I volunteer my time for financial education and have been asked to write an article for a local seniors newspaper, on the Social security spousal benefit. I'm having a heck of a time finding a direct answer to a question on the calculation of the Excess Spousal Benefit (ESB) Let's use an example to clarify: