Spousal Benefits ?? (spouses, social security, 2015, state)

[beer belly]

So, I'm thinking of collecting at 65 (next January), that September my Wife will be 62. If her SS benefit at 62 is less than mine, and she can collect her lower benefit, and will get a bump to meet my total ?. Example: at 65, my SS is $2500, hers at 62 would be $1000.....she would receive her $1000, plus an additional $1500 to equal my benefit ?

From the SSA website.....
How Much Will My Spouse Receive?
If your spouse qualifies for benefits on their own record, we will pay that amount first. If the benefit on your record is higher, they will get an additional amount on your record so that the combination of benefits equals that higher amount.

[Pitt Chick]

If you click through from that page, you get this:
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirem...applying7.html


At FRA, the most she can get is UP TO half of yours.

[lauradrops]

As I understand it, your scenario would give her less than 50% of your amount at 62.

If she collects at 62 it will be a reduced amount of 50% of yours. Her full retirement age would give her 1/2 of your benefit. ( hers plus the amount to bring it up to 50% of your benefit)

She would get the amount you get should you pass away. If 65 is less than your full retirement age, then that would be a reduction also.

"The spousal benefit can be as much as half of the worker's "primary insurance amount," depending on the spouse's age at retirement. If the spouse begins receiving benefits before "normal (or full) retirement age," the spouse will receive a reduced benefit. However, if a spouse is caring for a qualifying child, the spousal benefit is not reduced.

If a spouse is eligible for a retirement benefit based on his or her own earnings, and if that benefit is higher than the spousal benefit, then we pay the retirement benefit. Otherwise we pay the spousal benefit."

[mathjak107]

if your wife files at 62 she gets her reduced benefit…

then once you file , they take half your fra amount and subtract her full fra amount regardless of the fact she filed early

anything left is added to her reduced benefit so it will always be less then half yours .

so if her fra amount is 1200 but she gets 800 at 62 , and your fra amount is 2800.

they take half yours which is 1400 , subtract her 1200 fra amount and the 200 is added to her 800 .

so when you filed she would get bumped from 800 to 1000

[beer belly]

I would be collecting early at 65....FRA 67. She has left the workforce 2 years ago, so I know her SS will be less than half of mine. The section I quoted seems to contradict......or I'm reading it wrong, very well could be.

[mathjak107]

it works just the way i posted .

no matter when you file her spousal is always half your fra amount less her full fra amount , regardless of when she filed .

any difference is added to her early benefit.

at one time a spouse could file restricted application and leave their own to grow while taking half a spouses at fra .

but that is gone unless grandfathered in by being at least 62 in 2015 .

now you can only get your own benefit with no choice .

so now your early benefit gets an adder if there is anything left after subtracting their fra amount from half your fra amount

[beer belly]

Also from the SS Website

At their full retirement age, the spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your full retirement amount.

Does seem to contradict the first statement ?. I do trust in what you say though, wish you could sit in the chair next to me here to help with planning

[mathjak107]

no contradiction at all .

the higher benefit above referred to is the spousal benefit which is half the higher earners fra not the higher earners full amount.

you are interpreting it where they say the higher benefit to mean the full amount which is incorrect.
when discussing spousal the higher benefit is half the fra amount

[YorktownGal]

I have to wait until my full retirement age to collect on my husband's social security. If I took social security at 65 instead of waiting into my full retirement age of 66 and 8 months, there would be an $800 monthly difference.

You have to contact social security yourself. It also depends on your social security agent, as I had two telephone calls before I got all the information. Walking into a social security office is an even better option.

[mathjak107]

sometimes .. these low level clerks have been known to get things wrong

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy...misinformation