Hi I am wondering if there is a disadvantage to my husband collecting a SS restricted spousal benefit and waiting to collect his at age 70. We both will be full retirement age, with birth year 1953 for him and 1954 for myself. (I was the low earner and will switch to my spousal benefit when he files.) If I was to die before he collects his at age 70 could he switch from restricted spousal to receive a widower benefit on me while waiting to collect his?
Thank you for you input. I read and enjoyed both of your books. VW

Hi VW,

The potential disadvantage is that you would have to start drawing your benefits in order for your husband to be able to qualify for spousal benefits. But, if your primary insurance amount (PIA) is significantly less than 50% of your husband's PIA, then that probably wouldn't be much, if any, of a downside. However, if you start drawing your own benefits prior to full retirement age (FRA), you'll continue to receive a reduced rate for as long as both you and your husband are living, even if you later become eligible for spousal benefits.

Once you start drawing your own Social Security benefits you can't later switch to drawing just a spousal benefit. If you're drawing on your own record and you later become eligible for spousal benefits, your unreduced spousal rate would be calculated by subtracting your PIA (inclusive of delayed retirement credits, if applicable) from 50% of your husband's PIA. That could then be paid in addition to your own benefit rate, so if your own rate is reduced for age then you'll end up getting less than half of your husband's PIA.

If you die prior to reaching age 70, your husband's spousal benefit would convert to a widower's benefit equal to the full amount that you were receiving from your record. So, the sooner you start drawing prior to age 70, the lower that rate would be. Again, though, that's probably not a concern if your husband can switch to his own higher rate at age 70.

It sounds like you and your husband should strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to compare all of your various options so that you can determine the best possible way to maximize your benefits.

Best, Jerry