Hi Larry,

I have 3 questions about social security benefits:
1. My wife was born on 12/23/1954. She'd like to start her retirement benefits in March 2017, when she is 62 years old and 2 months. When is the earliest date she can file for her retirement benefits so that her benefits start in March 2017?
2. I was born on 03/20/1951. I will be at my full retirement age (66) in March 2017. Can I start spousal benefits the same time my wife starts her retirement benefits, which is March 2017?
3. I'm also entitled to CANADA benefits because I worked in CANADA for 5 years prior to immigrating to the U.S. However, I will not file for my CANADA benefits until I switch to my own U.S. retirement benefits in March 2021 (I will be 70 years-old). In the meantime, would my spousal benefits be affected by my eligibility for CANADA benefits?

Thank you so much for your help,
David

Hi David,

1. Applications for retirement and spousal benefits may be filed up to 4 months in advance, so you can file as early as November 2016 in order to start benefits effective with March 2017.

2. Yes, if your wife starts her retirement benefits effective March 2017 or earlier, you can file a restricted application for spousal benefits only with a March 2017 month of entitlement.

3. No, your Canadian pension eligibility won't affect your spousal benefits. That would be true even if you were already receiving a Canadian pension, since the Government Pension Offset provision (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf) doesn't apply to foreign pensions. However, when you start drawing your own Social Security retirement benefits, your benefit rate may be reduced due to the receipt of a Canadian pension. This is because of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). However, there are exceptions to WEP, which are discussed in this Social Security pamphlet (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf).

Best, Jerry