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btw make sure ur husband knows ur applying for spousal benefits cuz they might contact him to verify some info
One more thing to consider - if you're eligible for both your own retirement benefits and spousal benefits, be aware that the SSA will pay you whichever amount is higher, not both. A lot of people don't realize that. If your own work record would provide a higher benefit than the spousal benefit (which is maximum 50% of your husband's FRA benefit), then applying for spousal benefits won't increase your payment.
That's good to know! My own benefit would be much smaller since I stayed home with our kids for many years, so the spousal benefit should be higher. I just want to make sure I do everything right with the application process.
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IMPORTANT: Make sure you understand that once you file, your benefit amount is pretty much locked in (except for COLAs). That's why getting the timing right is so important! I filed too early and regret not waiting a few more months to get a higher amount. You CANNOT go back and change your filing date once benefits start!
That's not entirely accurate. Within the first 12 months after filing, you can withdraw your application (Form SSA-521), repay all benefits received, and then reapply later. It's essentially a do-over. However, you can only do this once in your lifetime. Beyond 12 months, your filing decision is indeed permanent.
Thank you all for the helpful information! Based on everything shared here, I think I'm going to wait until March 2025 to file. That will give me 9.7% in delayed retirement credits (16 months past my FRA) AND ensure my 2024 earnings are properly included in my benefit calculation. I'm going to spend some time reviewing my earnings history to confirm that my partial 2024 year will actually improve my benefit amount by replacing one of my lower-earning years. Then I'll use that Claimyr service to connect with SSA and double-check everything before I file. I really appreciate all the advice!
Sounds like a well-thought-out plan! The extra couple months of waiting will give you both additional delayed retirement credits and ensure your 2024 earnings are properly counted. Good luck with your retirement!
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my moms payment went up but my dads didnt change either! they told him its because his medicare premium also went up by almost the same amount as the cola so it looked like no change in the final deposit. maybe check if ur husbands medicare premium changed?
That's actually a really good point! I'll check his Medicare premium. He did change some prescription coverage during open enrollment so maybe that affected things.
Just to follow up on some of the great suggestions here: 1. Definitely check both your and your husband's Medicare premiums, as premium increases can offset COLA increases. 2. If your husband receives SSDI and you receive retirement benefits, they may process on different schedules. SSDI COLA adjustments sometimes process separately from retirement benefit adjustments. 3. The $120 payment could be: - A retroactive COLA adjustment - An underpayment correction - Your husband's COLA being paid separately - An adjustment related to earnings record updates If this doesn't resolve by next month's payment, or if you need clarity sooner, contacting SSA directly is your best option. Your MySocialSecurity account should eventually show an explanation in the message center, but these notices can be delayed by 1-2 weeks after payments are made.
Thank you for the detailed explanation! I'll check all those possibilities. My husband did work part-time last year, so maybe there's some earnings record update happening too. I'll wait until next month to see if things normalize before spending hours on the phone with SSA.
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Also don't forget about that one-time $255 death benefit when a spouse passes away. Not much but better than nothing I guess.
That $255 death benefit hasn't changed since the 1950s! Barely covers a flower arrangement these days. They really need to update that amount for inflation.
Thank you all for the helpful responses! This has cleared up so much confusion for me. I appreciate the technical details and real-life experiences shared here. I'm going to go ahead with my plan to claim at 62, and my husband will still plan to work until his FRA of 67. Knowing that my early filing won't impact potential survivor benefits gives me peace of mind. I'm also relieved to learn about being able to switch between benefits if circumstances change. Social Security really should make this information clearer on their website and publications!
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Can I get Social Security spousal benefits at 48 while caring for our 9-year-old? Husband collecting early retirement
I'm trying to figure out if I qualify for any Social Security benefits right now. My situation is a bit complicated. My husband and I have been married for 12 years but we've been living separately for the last 3 years (no legal separation, just living in different houses). He just turned 62 and started collecting his Social Security retirement benefits last month.We have a 9-year-old daughter who lives with me full-time, and I just found out she's already receiving benefits on her father's record. I'm 48 years old and working part-time while taking care of our daughter.Does anyone know if I might qualify for some kind of spousal benefits since I'm caring for our child? I've heard something about benefits for caring for a child under 16, but I'm not sure if that applies when we're not living together or if there are age restrictions for me. My daughter doesn't have any disabilities - she's just a regular 9-year-old.I tried calling the SSA but gave up after being on hold for over an hour. Any advice would be appreciated!
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That's great news! Just be prepared that the actual benefit amount might be different once they do the final calculations. Also remember that these benefits will automatically stop when your daughter turns 16, and if your income increases above the annual limit ($22,320 for 2025), your benefits could be reduced. Make sure to report any significant income changes to avoid overpayments that you'd have to pay back later.
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update us after u talk to them! im curious what the holdup is
Will do! I'm planning to call tomorrow morning first thing.
I wanted to add one more thing - when you do speak with SSA, be sure to ask them to note in your file that you've been trying to follow up on your application status. This creates a paper trail showing you've been proactive, which can be helpful if there are any issues later with payment timing. Also ask them for a specific timeframe for when you should expect a decision, and get the name of the representative you speak with. These simple steps can make follow-up much easier if needed.
That's excellent advice, thank you! I'll definitely get the representative's name and ask for that timeframe and note in my file.
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i remember my neighbor got both checks AND his wife got both checks to. but they didnt have pensions so maybe thats the difference?? my brother said somethin about the first 3 years of taking ss early is when you lose the most money but i dont know if thats true
Your neighbor situation is different because neither had a government pension. In the OP's case, they'll still get both Social Security checks (though one will be reduced by WEP), plus the pension. Regarding early filing, that's not quite right. Taking benefits at 62 means a permanent 30% reduction compared to Full Retirement Age (which is 67 for most people now). That reduction lasts for your entire lifetime, not just the first three years.
When I was figuring all this out last year, I found a calculator on the SSA website that helps estimate WEP reductions. It's complicated though! Definitely recommend talking to an actual person at SSA before making decisions. And yes, you each get your own Social Security benefit (though yours may be reduced by WEP). This is separate from spousal benefits, which is a whole different thing that comes into play if your own benefit would be less than half of your spouse's.
Thank you! I'll look for that calculator. I've been trying for weeks to get through to SSA on the phone but keep getting disconnected after waiting forever.
I had the same problem reaching SSA. After 4 failed attempts and hours on hold, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to a real person at SSA. Their system got me through in about 20 minutes instead of the 2+ hours I was experiencing before. Made a huge difference in getting my WEP questions answered correctly.
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everyone's talking bout SSDI but what about retirement? since shes almost 65 couldn't she just take early SS retirement? my neighbor did that at 62
That's actually a good point. At 64, she could apply for early retirement benefits rather than disability. However, there are important differences to consider: 1. Early retirement would be permanently reduced (about 6.7% reduction for claiming 1 year early) 2. SSDI would convert to full retirement benefits at her Full Retirement Age (66 or 67 depending on birth year) 3. SSDI approval through Compassionate Allowance might be faster than retirement processing 4. Medicare eligibility comes with SSDI after 24 months, but not until age 65 with early retirement Given her situation, applying for both simultaneously might make sense. If early retirement processes faster, she could start receiving those benefits, then switch to SSDI if approved (which would be the higher amount).
Just wanted to update everyone who's been so helpful. I talked to my SIL yesterday about all this. We're going to help her apply for both SSDI through the Compassionate Allowance program AND Medicaid through her state's emergency provision. She's also going to talk to HR about using sick leave/FMLA to stay technically employed while reducing her hours below the SGA limit. The oncology social worker at her hospital has been AMAZING - connected us with a patient advocate who's helping navigate everything. They also told us about special cancer assistance programs that might help with costs while we're waiting for government benefits to kick in. I'm still terrified about the timing of everything, but at least now we have a plan. Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and knowledge. It's made such a difference knowing what to ask for and where to start.
So glad to hear you're getting help from the oncology social worker! They really are amazing resources. If you run into any walls with SSA communication during this process, remember the service I mentioned. When dealing with something this time-sensitive, being able to actually speak with someone at Social Security can make a huge difference in how quickly things move forward. Wishing your SIL all the best during this difficult time.
so glad u have a plan now!! the waiting is still gonna be hard but at least ur moving forward. sending prayers for ur SIL 🙏
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Just a follow-up thought - since your regular payment came on the 23rd, which is right on schedule, this likely isn't a payment date adjustment. When SSA changes your payment date (which happens sometimes due to various administrative reasons), they would move your entire payment to a different day, not split it across two days. Are you receiving both Social Security retirement/disability AND SSI benefits? Sometimes people who qualify for both get payments on different days of the month, and occasionally one program might have an adjustment payment.
No, I only receive Social Security retirement benefits, not SSI. That's why this is so puzzling to me. Based on everyone's comments, it sounds like it's most likely some kind of adjustment or correction. I'll wait for the letter and then update everyone here when I find out what it was!
Has anyone here ever noticed that the SSA website sometimes updates with info about these kinds of payments BEFORE you actually get a letter in the mail? I always check there first when anything weird happens with my payments. Sometimes they have an explanation posted in my message center before the letter arrives.
YES!! The message center sometimes has the info but GOOD LUCK finding it!! That website is IMPOSSIBLE to navigate sometimes!!! I asked my granddaughter to help me find stuff there because I get lost every time!!!
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Khalil Urso
How many years do you have to work to get to the 35 years anyways? I only worked for 31 years total. Does that mean they put in 4 years of ZEROS for me? That seems unfair!!!!
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Jacinda Yu
•Yes, if you have fewer than 35 years of earnings, SSA will use zeros for the remaining years to reach 35. This is part of the standard calculation method. The good news for the original poster is that their higher earnings now will have an even greater impact if they had any lower-earning years or zeros in their original calculation. Each year of higher earnings that replaces a zero or very low earning year will provide a more significant benefit increase.
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Hugo Kass
Thank you all for the great information! I'm relieved to hear the recalculation happens automatically. After reading your responses, I checked my Social Security statement online and noticed I had a couple of years early in my career with very low earnings, so these new higher-earning years should definitely help boost my benefit. I've marked my calendar for October 2026 (after I plan to fully retire) to make sure I see the final adjustment. Such a relief not having to navigate the SSA phone system to request this! For those suggesting I monitor my earnings record - definitely good advice. I'll make a habit of checking my mySocialSecurity account annually to verify everything's recorded correctly.
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Myles Regis
•That's a smart approach. One additional tip: when you do see the benefit increase, double-check that it seems reasonable based on which years were replaced. While the AERO process is automatic, occasional errors do occur. If the new amount seems significantly different than what you expected (either much higher or lower), it might be worth contacting SSA for clarification, as they can provide a detailed breakdown of your recalculation.
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