I'm dealing with a similar decision at 64 and wanted to add something that helped clarify things for me - the SSA's online benefit calculators can be a bit misleading if you don't understand what they're showing you. When I first looked at them, I thought my early filing would definitely hurt my spouse's benefits, but that was because I was confusing the different types of benefits. What really helped me was calling SSA and specifically asking them to walk me through the difference between my "Primary Insurance Amount" (PIA) and my "actual benefit amount if I claim early." They explained that my wife's spousal benefit calculation will ALWAYS be based on my PIA (what I'd get at full retirement age), not what I actually receive if I file early. The survivor benefit issue others mentioned is real though - that one IS based on what I'm actually receiving when I die, so there's definitely a trade-off to consider there. One more thing - if you're thinking about claiming early, make sure you understand the earnings test if you're still working. I almost made a costly mistake there by not realizing how much of my benefits would be withheld due to my part-time income.

I'm a bit late to this discussion but wanted to add my perspective as someone who recently went through the Social Security claiming decision with my spouse. After reading through all the responses here, I think there's a lot of good information, but I wanted to emphasize one thing that really helped us make our decision. We ended up meeting with a certified financial planner who specializes in Social Security optimization (found one through the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors), and it was worth every penny. While the basic rules about PIA vs. actual benefits are pretty clear once you understand them, the real value was in modeling different scenarios based on our specific situation - health history, other retirement assets, expected longevity, etc. What surprised me most was how much the "sequence of returns risk" factored into our decision. If you're relying on investment withdrawals to bridge the gap between early retirement and Social Security, market timing can have a huge impact on your overall financial picture. Sometimes taking Social Security early - even if it's not "optimal" from a pure benefit maximization standpoint - can provide valuable protection against market volatility in those crucial early retirement years. Also, for what it's worth, we found the SSA representatives to be much more helpful when we came prepared with specific questions rather than asking general "what should I do" questions. They're great at explaining the rules but can't really advise on strategy, which makes sense given their role.

Thank you all for the helpful information! After reading everyone's responses, I think I'll wait until my FRA to file for benefits since my own retirement amount will be higher than the spousal benefit anyway. I'll try using that Claimyr service to actually speak with SSA and confirm all this information. It's frustrating that this strategy is no longer available to people my age, but at least now I understand the rules better.

Just wanted to add another perspective on this - I went through the same decision process last year when I turned 64. What helped me was creating a spreadsheet comparing the total lifetime benefits under different scenarios (filing at 65, 66, or waiting until FRA). Even though waiting feels painful when you could be getting some money now, the math usually works out better if you live into your 80s or beyond, especially for women who tend to have longer lifespans. Also, don't forget that your benefit will continue to grow with cost-of-living adjustments even while you wait, so you're not just missing out on payments - you're building a higher base for the rest of your life. The emotional part is hard though - it feels like leaving money on the table!

Many online calculators provide reasonable estimates but lack the nuance of your complete earnings history. Some financial advisors offer more comprehensive analysis. Be wary of

I went through this exact decision two years ago and ended up waiting until my FRA at 67. Here's what helped me decide: I calculated the "break-even" point - how long I'd need to live for the higher monthly payments to make up for the two years of missed benefits. For my situation, it was around age 79. Since I'm in good health and women typically live longer, waiting made sense. Another factor was that my part-time work income would have made a portion of my early benefits taxable anyway. I'd definitely recommend getting personalized calculations from SSA rather than relying on online estimates - your specific earnings history makes a huge difference in these scenarios.

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly informative discussion! I'm in a very similar situation - my spouse is planning to delay until 70 and I've been confused about how this affects my potential spousal benefits. The consistent message from multiple people who have actually experienced this is really reassuring, even if the news about spousal benefits being based on FRA amounts rather than age 70 amounts is disappointing. At least now I can plan with accurate information instead of hoping for the higher amount. What really stands out to me is how this thread demonstrates that Social Security planning isn't just about one decision in isolation. The connections between spousal benefits, survivor benefits, Medicare enrollment timing, and your own benefit optimization create a complex web that really benefits from careful analysis. I'm particularly grateful for the practical resources mentioned - the SSA online account, local workshops, and the suggestion to create comparison spreadsheets. Sometimes the hardest part is just knowing where to start with all these variables. One question for those who have been through this: did anyone find it helpful to run scenarios for different life expectancy assumptions? Given that women typically live longer than men, I'm wondering if that should factor into how we weigh the survivor benefit protection versus current income optimization. Thanks again for creating such a supportive space to work through these complicated but crucial decisions!

As a new member of this community, I wanted to jump into this discussion because I'm facing almost the exact same situation! My husband is 67 and planning to delay until 70, and I'm 62 trying to figure out my optimal strategy. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - the consistent confirmation from multiple people who have actually gone through this process that spousal benefits are based on FRA amounts (not age 70 amounts) finally gives me the definitive answer I've been searching for. While it's disappointing that I won't get 50% of his enhanced benefit, at least I can now plan with certainty. What's been most eye-opening is how this discussion has expanded beyond just the spousal benefit calculation to cover all the interconnected decisions - Medicare timing, survivor benefit strategies, and the comparison between spousal benefits versus optimizing my own benefits with delayed retirement credits. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about getting my actual Social Security statement online and creating a detailed comparison spreadsheet. The suggestion about factoring in life expectancy assumptions really resonates with me too - as several people pointed out, the survivor benefit protection could be worth significantly more over a 15-20 year widowhood than the monthly difference during our joint lifetimes. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment where people can share real experiences and practical advice. This has been more helpful than months of trying to navigate the SSA website and phone system on my own!

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this extensively. One thing I discovered that might help: you can actually get a rough estimate of your ex-spouse benefit by using the SSA's online benefit calculator if you know your ex's work history. It's not perfect, but it can give you a ballpark figure to compare against your own benefit estimate from your my Social Security account. Also, I found that calling right at 8 AM on weekdays (when they open) or sometimes around lunchtime (12-1 PM) tends to have shorter hold times. Avoid Mondays and the first few days after holidays if possible. One more tip: if your local SSA office offers "express interviews" for simple questions, that might be faster than a full appointment. Some offices do these on certain days for people who just need benefit estimates rather than filing applications. Worth calling to ask!

I went through this exact situation 6 months ago at age 67! Here's what I learned the hard way: The online application absolutely will NOT show you both amounts - it's designed to just process your application, not help you compare options. I made the mistake of starting online first and got frustrated when I couldn't see the comparison. What finally worked: I called the 800 number at exactly 8:00 AM on a Tuesday (as others suggested) and got through in about 20 minutes. The rep was able to pull up both my own benefit amount AND my divorced spouse benefit from my ex-husband's record immediately - no waiting for calculations. Key things to have ready when you call: - Your ex's full name and date of birth - Your marriage date and divorce date - Your own SSN (obviously) One surprise: My ex also filed early at 62, but like others mentioned, this didn't hurt my potential divorced spouse benefit at all. It's based on his full retirement age amount, not what he's actually receiving. In my case, my own benefit was slightly higher, so that's what I went with. But I'm so glad I checked both because it could have easily gone the other way. Don't skip this step - the difference could be significant over your lifetime! The whole phone call took about 45 minutes total, and I walked away with exact dollar amounts for both options. Much better than guessing or starting an application blindly.