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AARP magazine had a good article this month on Social Security Spousal Benefits.
One of the most overlooked and little used benefits is the Spousal Benefit. Many people who do not qualify for anything or much from Social Security based on their own work record, can still qualify for Spousal Benefits based on their spouses work record.
My wife doesn't have enough work to qualify for Social Security or Medicare. Can she qualify on my record?
Answer
The question you've raised applies to husbands as well as wives. Even if he or she has never worked under Social Security, your spouse at full retirement age can receive a benefit equal to one-half of your full retirement amount. (If your spouse will receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security such as government foreign employment, the amount of his or her Social Security benefits on your record may be reduced. Take a look at the fact sheet, Government Pension Offset for more information.)
Your spouse can begin collecting the benefits as early as age 62, but the amount will be permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months up to his or her full retirement age. Your spouse who is caring for your child who is also receiving benefits can receive the full one-half benefit amount no matter what his or her age is. Your spouse would receive these benefits until the child reaches age 16. At that time, the child's benefits continue, but your spouse's benefits stop unless he or she is old enough to receive retirement benefits (age 62 or older) or survivor benefits as a widow or widower (age 60).
If your spouse has also worked under Social Security--If your spouse is eligible for retirement benefits on his or her own record, we will always pay that amount first. But if the spouse benefit on your record is a higher amount, he or she will get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. It doesn't matter if your spouse starts getting benefits before, after, or at the same time you do--we will check both records to make sure that your spouse gets the higher amount whenever he or she becomes entitled to it.
NOTE: A spouse cannot begin receiving benefits until the number holder is receiving benefits.
I am full retirement age and so is my x-husband. SS has advised me that I can receive my SS or half of his, which ever is higher. Mine is higher than half of his. I asked about the combination of benefits to equal his higher SS benefit and they looked at me like a deer in the headlight. At this point, SS has me as receiving only my benefits which are lower than his.
"If your spouse has also worked under Social Security--If your spouse is eligible for retirement benefits on his or her own record, we will always pay that amount first. But if the spouse benefit on your record is a higher amount, he or she will get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. It doesn't matter if your spouse starts getting benefits before, after, or at the same time you do--we will check both records to make sure that your spouse gets the higher amount whenever he or she becomes entitled to it."
Last edited by savannahrenee; 02-09-2015 at 08:21 AM..
Reason: Add information
You don't get to combine benefits. They explained it exactly how it is. You get either your entire benefit, or half of his, whichever is higher. You said your benefit is higher than half of his, so that is what you get.
"--If your spouse is eligible for retirement benefits on his or her own record, we will always pay that amount first. But if the spouse benefit on your record is a higher amount, he or she will get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. It doesn't matter if your spouse starts getting benefits before, after, or at the same time you do--we will check both records to make sure that your spouse gets the higher amount whenever he or she becomes entitled to it."
"The spouse benefit on your record" in that statement refers to the base spousal benefit, which is half of the worker's primary benefit.
Since you and he are both FRA, you have the choice to file for spousal (1/2 his) or your own benefit. One reason you might consider filing for spousal is that the amount of your own benefit then would continue to increase by approx. 8% every year you delay filing for it, up until age 70. So if you wait until you're 70, you can then file for benefits on your own record and your benefit will be approx. 32% higher.
Last edited by biscuitmom; 02-09-2015 at 10:56 AM..
Starting this month, I am collecting my spousal benefits. And hopefully that will let me wait till I am FRA or older to collect my own SS. And yes, mine is higher than half of his benefit.
Since you and he are both FRA, you have the choice to file for spousal (1/2 his) or your own benefit. One reason you might consider filing for spousal is that the amount of your own benefit then would continue to increase by approx. 8% every year you delay filing for it, up until age 70. So if you wait until you're 70, you can then file for benefits on your own record and your benefit will be approx. 32% higher.
Can you find that documented anywhere? A friend of mine just mentioned that to me but I can't find anything about it on the website.
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