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Social Security calculator shows minimal filing age difference - what life expectancy do they use?
Hey everyone, I've been playing around with the OpenSocialSecurity.com calculator trying to figure out my best claiming strategy. Just discovered you can adjust the claiming dates at the bottom to see lifetime benefit differences! Interesting that there really isn't a huge financial difference between claiming ages like everyone says. What I can't seem to find though is what life expectancy they're using in their calculations. Probably doesn't change the bottom line much, but I'm curious if anyone knows what mortality tables they're basing this on? My family tends to be pretty long-lived (grandparents all made it past 90), so I wonder if that should factor into my decision more than their standard assumptions.
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Will my SSDI increase when my husband files for Social Security with higher benefit amount?
I've been receiving SSDI for about 5 years due to a permanent disability (rheumatoid arthritis that prevents me from working). I currently get around $1,650 monthly. My husband turns 67 next month and plans to file for his retirement benefits. Based on the SSA estimate letter he received, his monthly benefit will be approximately $2,800. I'm confused about whether my SSDI payment will increase when he files. Someone at my support group mentioned I might be eligible for additional benefits as a spouse since his benefit amount is so much higher than mine. But when I called SSA, I waited for 3 hours only to be told something about 'dual entitlement' that I didn't fully understand. Does anyone know if my SSDI benefit will automatically increase once my husband starts collecting his retirement? Or do I need to file something special to get the higher amount? Really appreciate any help understanding this!
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Wait a minute - has anyone mentioned the impact on taxes here? When my wife started collecting her retirement on top of my SSDI, it pushed our combined income into a higher tax bracket and suddenly 85% of my SSDI became taxable! The extra benefit amount wasn't worth the tax hit. Make sure to consider the tax implications before you get excited about any potential increase!
Based on the numbers you shared, let's do a quick calculation: If your husband's benefit at his full retirement age (before any delayed retirement credits) is around $2,800, then 50% of that would be $1,400. Since your current SSDI is $1,650, which is higher than the $1,400 spousal benefit you might be eligible for, you likely won't receive any additional amount through dual entitlement. However, these are just estimates. Your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) might be different from his actual benefit if he's delaying past full retirement age. I'd still recommend applying for the spousal benefit once he files, just to make sure you don't miss out on any potential increase.
Thank you for working through those numbers! That's really helpful to see the actual calculation. You're right that we won't know the exact amounts until he actually files, but at least now I have a better understanding of how it works and what to expect.
Can wife claim spousal benefits with husband at max SS benefit - both high earners?
My sister-in-law (62) is trying to figure out her Social Security strategy and asked me to check with people who might know. Her husband is 77 and already collecting his maximum SS retirement benefit since he was always a very high wage earner. She's also had a strong career with high earnings. She's thinking about waiting until her full retirement age to file, but wondering if she might qualify for any additional spousal benefits on top of her own record? I know there's that "excess spousal" thing but don't know if that applies when both people have good earnings histories. Would she get anything extra from being married to someone receiving maximum benefits, or should she just focus on her own record? Thanks for any insights!
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Has your SIL checked if she'd be subject to WEP or GPO??? My friend's wife thought she'd get spousal benefits too but got hit with the windfall elimination provision because she had a government pension!!! If your SIL worked for state govt or federal job without paying into SS, that could change EVERYTHING!!!!
Good point about WEP/GPO, though the original post mentioned both were high wage earners, which suggests they both paid into Social Security throughout their careers. But you're right that if either had non-covered employment (government jobs without SS taxes), that would significantly change the calculations.
Just wanted to share that I was in this exact situation - high earner husband, also good income myself. I got ZERO spousal benefits. My own benefit at FRA was about $2,800 and half of his PIA was only $1,900 so no excess for me. Probably same for your sister-in-law if she has a good earnings record.
Thanks for sharing your real numbers - that helps put things in perspective. I'm guessing she'll be in a similar situation based on her career, but at least now she knows what to expect!
Can I still claim Social Security ex-spouse benefits after remarrying? My ex's SS will be higher than my current spouse's
I've been trying to figure this out but keep getting conflicting info from friends. I was married to my first husband for 18 years (divorced 3 years ago). I'm currently 50 and remarried about 3 years ago. The thing is, my ex-husband made really good money throughout his career while my current husband has had a more modest income. I've worked on and off but mostly part-time jobs while raising kids. My question is: since my ex will likely have much higher Social Security benefits than both me and my current husband, am I still eligible to claim any portion of my ex's Social Security? I know there's some kind of 10-year marriage rule, and we were married well over that (18 years), but does my remarriage cancel out my eligibility? My ex isn't remarried currently and probably won't be anytime soon. I'm trying to plan ahead since retirement isn't that far off. Thanks for any help!
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have you checked whether you can get benefits based on YOUR work record? my friend thought her ex would give her more but turned out her own SS was actually better!!!
That's a good point! I should definitely check my own record. I've worked on and off for about 25 years, though many years were part-time. I'll create a my Social Security account and check my estimated benefits.
I wish they would make these rules simpler to understand. It's like they WANT us to mess up our retirement planning! When my mom retired, she had no idea she could have gotten more by waiting until her FRA. Now she's stuck with a permanently reduced benefit. The whole system feels rigged sometimes.
omg same with my aunt!! she took SS at 62 and now gets like $300 less EVERY MONTH than if she waited. nobody told her and she cant go back and change it. so messed up!!!
Can my ex-spouse claim Social Security on my record without my knowledge? (Won't affect my benefits?)
I've been divorced for about 9 years now and I'm turning 63 next month. I'm planning to delay my own Social Security retirement benefits until I hit 70 to maximize my monthly amount. Recently at a family gathering, someone mentioned that ex-spouses can claim on each other's records, and now I'm wondering if my ex has possibly already filed for benefits based on my earnings. Not that I mind - I understand it shouldn't reduce my own benefit amount at all. But is there any way to find out if this has happened? Does the SSA notify you when an ex claims on your record? Or is that information confidential? Again, I'm mostly just curious since I know it won't impact what I'll get at 70. But the thought that someone might be drawing benefits based on my work history without my knowledge feels a bit strange.
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One thing to keep in mind - if your ex hasn't claimed yet but does so in the future, they might get a higher benefit from their own record depending on their earnings history. The SSA will pay whichever is higher: their own retirement benefit or the spousal benefit (which maxes out at 50% of your PIA). So don't assume they'll automatically claim on your record even if eligible.
That's a good point I hadn't considered. My ex earned quite a bit less than me during our marriage (lots of career transitions), so I'm guessing the spousal benefit would be higher, but who knows what happened after our divorce. Thanks for pointing that out!
Does your ex know that you're delaying until 70? Because if they're collecting on your record while you're delaying, they're only getting the benefit calculated on your PIA at your full retirement age, not the increased amount you'll get at 70. Just FYI.
This is an excellent point that often gets overlooked. Ex-spouse benefits are based on the worker's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) at FRA (Full Retirement Age), not the enhanced amount from delayed credits. So your decision to wait until 70 doesn't increase what your ex might receive.
Omar Hassan
I went to a retirement seminar last week and the financial advisor said most of these online calculators are pretty accurate. He recommended that site specifically! He also said to add 5-7 years to whatever you think your life expectancy is because most people underestimate. Apparently women especially tend to live longer than they plan for financially.
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NeonNebula
did the advisor try to sell you anything? my cousin went to one of those "free" seminars and got pressured into buying some annuity thing that she didnt need at all. be careful!
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Freya Christensen
I think what matters more than the life expectancy they use is your OWN family history and health. My parents both passed in their early 70s from heart issues that run in the family, so I'm planning to claim at 62. No calculator knows YOUR situation!
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StarSurfer
That's absolutely correct. While statistical averages are useful for general guidance, your personal health, family history, and financial situation should ultimately drive your decision. For someone with health concerns or family history of shorter lifespans, claiming earlier can be the rational choice. The "optimal" claiming strategy is always personal.
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