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Will I get spousal benefits at 62 when husband already receives SS retirement?
I'm turning 62 next month and trying to figure out my Social Security options. My husband started collecting his retirement benefits when he was 65 (he's 67 now). His full retirement age benefit is $1900 per month. When I checked my statement online, it says my own benefit at 62 would only be about $622. I'm wondering if I'll be eligible for any additional amount as a spouse? I think it's called a 'top-up' or something? I won't be working anymore as I'm leaving my job next week, so no earnings issues. I'm confused about how much I'll actually get when I file. Do I just get my $622 or will they add something because my husband's benefit is so much higher?
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Can my LEO husband switch to spousal benefits on my SS record when his own benefit is so small?
I'm hoping someone can help me understand spousal benefits. My husband (64) and I (68) got married about 3 years ago. He worked in corrections for most of his career, so he only paid into Social Security from part-time jobs and now receives just $525 monthly from SS. His main retirement comes from his prison system pension. I waited until my full retirement age and now get $3,100 per month from Social Security based on my earnings. Since we've been married for 3+ years now, is my husband eligible to receive spousal benefits based on MY record? I've been reading posts here about "deemed filing" and "spousal benefits" but I'm confused about whether the rules changed in 2015 or if he can still apply for the higher amount. His current SS benefit seems so small compared to what he might get as my spouse (which I think would be half of mine?). This could make a huge difference for us with inflation hitting our fixed income hard. Would really appreciate any insights about how this works!
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my sister went thru this last yr. don't forget hes still eligible for the lump sum death benefit when u pass away even with GPO. not much but its something.
True about death benefit but it's only $255 - barely covers flowers at the funeral these days! The whole system needs fixing. Law enforcement and teachers get completely screwed by WEP and GPO even after working their whole lives. My neighbor taught for 30 years AND worked summers paying into SS and still lost thousands in benefits!
One final point that might help others in similar situations: If your husband had enough Social Security-covered employment (40 quarters/10 years), he would be exempt from the WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) that could otherwise reduce his own benefit. But GPO still applies to spousal benefits regardless of quarters of coverage. The distinction between WEP (affects your own benefit) and GPO (affects spousal/survivor benefits) confuses many people. And unfortunately, there's been legislation proposed to reform these provisions for years but nothing has passed yet.
That's a great point about the WEP vs. GPO distinction. And to clarify further for the original poster: even though your husband might not qualify for additional spousal benefits now, he may still be eligible for survivor benefits if you pass away before him. Survivor benefits can be up to 100% of your benefit (rather than the 50% for spousal), so even after the GPO reduction, he might receive some survivor benefits. This is something to consider for long-term financial planning.
Social Security benefits calculation when turning 65 before FRA - income limit questions
I'm turning 65 on December 25th (next month) but my Full Retirement Age is 66 and 10 months. I'm working part-time at a small business and planning to claim benefits early, but I'm confused about the earnings limit. When they calculate if I'm over the earnings limit, do they look at what I earned last year or what I'm earning this year? I want to make sure I stay under the threshold so my benefits aren't reduced. Also, does the limit change once I hit FRA or is it the same reduced amount until I reach 66 and 10 months? I've tried calling SS three times but keep getting disconnected after waiting for hours. Thanks for any help!
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My situation was different but same question basically. I started SS at 62 and kept working and they calculated based on my currnt year income. They made me give a estimate when i filed. Then every January they send this form asking about next years income estimate. Its annoying but better than owing them money later!!! They retroactivly take money if u mess up!!
Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I'm going to carefully track my earnings next year and make sure to give SSA a realistic estimate. I might try that Claimyr service too since I really need to talk to someone directly about my specific situation. I appreciate all your advice and hearing about your experiences!
Will SS Fairness Act help ex-spouse of teacher with WEP get higher benefits despite deemed filing?
I need help understanding the potential impact of the Social Security Fairness Act for a unique client situation. She's 73, a retired teacher with a non-SS pension, but also earned enough Social Security credits (12 years of work) to receive her own WEP-reduced benefit of about $580/month. She was married 14 years before divorcing and never remarried. Her ex-spouse's benefit would provide her approximately $1,250/month, but due to GPO, she's currently receiving only her own reduced benefit. If GPO is repealed through the SS Fairness Act, would she be able to switch to the higher ex-spousal benefit at this point? Or does deemed filing mean she's permanently stuck with her current benefit since she's well past FRA? I'm wondering if she automatically applied for all benefits she was eligible for when she initially filed, even though GPO eliminated the ex-spousal option at that time. Any insights from those who understand these complex intersections of WEP, GPO and divorced spouse benefits would be much appreciated.
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Don't get too excited about the Fairness Act. They've been trying to pass this for TWENTY YEARS with no success! Congress doesn't care about retired teachers or police officers. All talk, no action. I'll believe it when I see it.
While I understand your frustration, there is more momentum now than ever before. The current bill has 305 cosponsors in the House (more than 70% of representatives) and 43 in the Senate. That's unprecedented support. Yes, there are legitimate funding concerns, but dismissing it entirely isn't helpful. Many advocacy groups believe some form of relief will pass in the next 1-2 years, even if it's not the full repeal originally proposed.
Thank you all for the incredibly helpful responses! This gives me much better clarity on how to advise my client. To summarize what I've learned: 1. Yes, deemed filing actually works in her favor here - she's already technically applied for ex-spousal benefits 2. If GPO is repealed, SSA would recalculate and pay her the higher amount 3. She should be prepared to contact SSA when/if legislation passes to ensure her case is reviewed 4. Implementation could take months even after passage 5. There's a good chance we'll see some modification rather than full repeal This has been extremely valuable - much appreciated!
You've got it exactly right. One final tip: have your client verify that her ex-spouse is properly linked to her record at SSA. Sometimes these connections aren't properly established in the system, which could delay any potential benefit adjustment. She can confirm this by requesting a copy of her Social Security Statement or asking specifically about this when speaking with an SSA representative.
Will Mom's Social Security and Medicare cover medical emergencies during her overseas trip?
My mother (72) is planning her first international trip since retiring - a 3 week European tour starting next month. I'm trying to help her understand what medical coverage she'll have while traveling. She receives Social Security retirement benefits and has both Medicare Part A & B plus a Medigap Plan F. I've heard conflicting information about whether Medicare covers anything overseas, and if her Medigap plan fills that gap. Called SSA three times but kept getting disconnected after 45+ minutes on hold. Has anyone dealt with this situation? Do we need to purchase additional travel insurance? Really concerned about potential medical costs if something happens during her trip.
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just wondering does her ss checks still get deposited while shes traveling? my aunt went to philippines for 3 months and had problems with her bank
For a 3-week trip, there should be no impact on Social Security direct deposits. Those continue normally regardless of temporary travel. Problems typically only arise with extended stays (6+ months) in certain countries or if someone moves permanently overseas. Even then, US citizens generally continue receiving their benefits with few exceptions.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I've checked mom's Medigap Plan F policy and confirmed it does include the foreign travel emergency coverage ($250 deductible, 80% coverage up to $50,000 lifetime). Based on your advice, I'm also getting her a supplemental travel medical policy for peace of mind. Found one that specifically coordinates with Medicare/Medigap and includes medical evacuation coverage. Mom's really excited about her trip now that we have the insurance figured out. I appreciate all the personal experiences shared - it really helped us make an informed decision!
Margot Quinn
my aunt just turned 62 and she got a spousal benefit that was like $200 more than her own benefit would have been. but she worked part time most of her life so her own benefit was pretty small.
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AaliyahAli
Thank you everyone for all the helpful responses! I've learned a lot about how the spousal benefit works. I think I'm going to go ahead and file now at 62 since we could use the extra income, even though it's reduced. One last question - do I need to bring anything special to prove my marriage when I apply?
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Henrietta Beasley
For a spousal application, you'll need: 1. Your marriage certificate 2. Both your Social Security numbers 3. Your birth certificate (original or certified copy) 4. Your most recent W-2 or tax return 5. Bank account information for direct deposit If you've been married before, you may also need divorce decrees. It's always best to bring too much documentation rather than too little. You can apply online, but I recommend calling or visiting an office since this involves spousal benefits.
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