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SSA rules are confusing!!! My aunt thought she would get both benefits too but ended up with just the higher one. Something about "dual entitlement" that the rep explained but I don't really understand all the details.
Dual" entitlement is the technical term for this situation. It means when someone is eligible for both their own retirement benefit and a benefit as a spouse or survivor, SSA'doesn t pay both full amounts. Instead, they pay the'person s own benefit first, and then add only enough of the second benefit to bring the total up to the amount of the higher benefit. This effectively means you receive whichever benefit amount is higher, but not bothcombined.
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To respond to your follow-up question - yes, you should contact SSA when your husband files for his benefits. There's no automatic notification system, so you'll need to either: 1. Ask your children to let you know when he mentions filing for Social Security 2. Contact SSA periodically starting around his 62nd birthday to check his filing status 3. Wait until he reaches his Full Retirement Age (probably 67 for someone who's 60 now) when he's more likely to file And you're correct that from a purely Social Security benefits perspective, there's no financial advantage or disadvantage to getting divorced at this point. The benefits calculation would be identical either way since you were married well over 10 years. The only practical difference is the documentation process - as a current spouse, the connection is already established in SSA's system, while as a divorced spouse, you would need to provide marriage and divorce documentation.
u know what tho, if ur husband is making good money maybe talkin to a lawyer bout a divorce and some spousal support might actually be worth it. just because ur separated dont mean ur not entitled to a share of his current income in some states. might be worth checkin on, just sayin
That's an interesting point I hadn't considered. It's been so many years of complete financial separation that I never thought about that. Maybe I should at least consult with a lawyer about my options.
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im pretty sure u made the right choice. My cousin did somethin similar and his checks got bigger when he turned 70. The SS people sometimes don't know there own rules lol
That's the unfortunate truth. The rules are complex, and not all representatives are equally well-trained. For specialized situations like benefit suspension, it's always best to ask for a Technical Expert or someone who specializes in retirement benefits specifically.
Just to add one more technical detail - the DRC rate is 2/3 of 1% per month, which works out to 8% per year for each full year you delay. So in the original poster's case, if they suspend from age 68 to 70, they'd get approximately 16% increase from the DRCs earned during suspension (plus any COLAs that occur during that period). Also important: while benefits are suspended, any benefits payable to others on your record (like spousal benefits) are also suspended, except for divorced spouse benefits. Make sure that doesn't impact your situation.
Thank you for this additional information! I'm not married, so thankfully I don't need to worry about suspending anyone else's benefits. The 16% increase over two years would be significant - that's why I was so upset when the rep told me I wouldn't get any increase at all! This thread has been incredibly helpful.
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anybody know if taking care of a sick parent counts for anything with social security? like do u get credits or something for being a caregiver?
Unfortunately, Social Security doesn't provide work credits for caring for family members. However, there are some states that have paid family leave programs that might provide some income during caregiving periods. It varies by state though. This wouldn't affect your Social Security record directly, but at least provides some income while caregiving.
To definitively resolve this, you need to request a detailed earnings record and benefit calculation from SSA. They can provide a year-by-year breakdown showing exactly which 35 years are being used in your calculation and how changes in future earnings might affect your benefit amount. This is the only way to get complete clarity on your specific situation. One tip: When you speak with SSA, specifically ask for your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) based on your current earnings record, and ask them to explain how continued work until FRA might have changed that amount. Be persistent in getting a detailed explanation rather than a general answer.
Ava Johnson
Sorry but this is EXACTLY why I tell everyone to be VERY careful about taking early retirement!!! Your dad lost THOUSANDS by claiming at 62! His benefit would be at least $4500-5000 if he had waited until 70!!! And now your mom might get less survivor benefits because of his decision!!! Social Security is SO COMPLICATED and the govt makes it IMPOSSIBLE to understand on purpose!!!
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ElectricDreamer
•ppl take early ss for lots of reasons tho... maybe he had health issues or needed the $ right away?? not everyone can wait till 70
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Sofia Perez
Thank you all for the helpful responses! Based on your advice, I've talked with my mom and we're going to: 1. Calculate what 100% of dad's PIA would be (vs his reduced benefit) 2. Compare that to her current SSDI amount 3. Make sure she understands she'll need to apply for survivor benefits if/when the time comes It's a relief to know she'd have options if something happens to my dad. The divorce has been stressful enough without worrying about financial insecurity. I appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge and personal experiences!
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Dmitry Smirnov
•That sounds like a solid plan. One additional suggestion: your mother should create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov if she hasn't already. This will allow her to see her own earnings record and benefit estimates. While it won't show potential survivor benefits, it's still helpful to have all her current information organized and accessible. It will make the application process smoother if/when she needs to apply for survivor benefits in the future.
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