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I see a LOT of confusion about this topic! My wife is 7 years younger than me, and we went through this exact situation. Here's what ACTUALLY happens: 1) Your husband CANNOT receive spousal benefits until YOU file for YOUR retirement benefits 2) The SSA calculator is showing a HYPOTHETICAL amount based on if you filed RIGHT NOW 3) When you DO file at your FRA, then your husband can apply for spousal benefits 4) He'll only get the DIFFERENCE between his current benefit and 50% of your PIA (if that's higher) Don't be fooled by that $1140 number - that's likely 50% of your projected PIA, not the actual amount he'd receive as a top-up. His actual top-up will be that amount MINUS his current benefit. And YES, it's worth waiting until your FRA to file!!!! Don't file early - you'll reduce BOTH your benefit AND any potential spousal benefit for your husband.
THIS!!! We got burned by misunderstanding this exact thing. My wife filed early thinking it would help ME get more $$ and it actually REDUCED what I could get from her record. Listen to this advice!!!
somebody told me once that if ur spouse dies the survivor gets the higher of the two benefits. not sure if thats true but might be something to think about with ur planning
That's correct. When one spouse passes away, the surviving spouse can receive the higher of either their own benefit or the deceased spouse's full benefit (what they were receiving or would have received at FRA). This is why it's often beneficial for the higher-earning spouse to delay claiming as long as possible - it potentially creates a larger survivor benefit.
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Another issue nobody's mentioning - SSA would need to REHIRE many retirees temporarily just to handle this workload if it passes. Most current staff don't even understand the WEP/GPO calculations because they're so complicated!!! The institutional knowledge is walking out the door every month with retirements. When they implemented the Bipartisan Budget Act changes a few years back, it was CHAOS for months because they didn't provide enough training or staff. I can't imagine how they'd handle millions of recalculations without a MASSIVE budget increase.
To address a few points raised in this thread: 1. The 5-year phase-in is actually a responsible approach given SSA's current capacity constraints. Without it, the system might face complete gridlock. 2. The Congressional Budget Office estimates implementation would cost approximately $90-100 million in administrative expenses during the first year alone. 3. Funding challenges are significant - SSA's budget has remained relatively flat for years despite workload increases of 20%+. 4. Regarding hiring retired SSA employees - there are actually provisions allowing federal agencies to bring back annuitants in crisis situations without pension offset, which could potentially be utilized here. The fundamental issue remains that benefit policy and administrative capacity must be addressed simultaneously for effective implementation.
This whole conversation has been incredibly informative. I started out just wondering about staffing but have learned so much more about the implementation challenges. I appreciate everyone's insights! I'm going to write to my representatives today about supporting both the WEP/GPO repeal AND funding for SSA operations. No point fixing one problem while making another worse.
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this reminds me I need to update my beneficiaries on my 401k... been meaning to do that since my divorce last year
Yes, definitely update those beneficiaries! It's something people often forget after major life changes, but it's so important.
One thing nobody mentioned - be careful with that financial advisor! My dad's advisor tried to get him to move money around after mom died and it turned out he was just trying to generate commissions. Make sure your advisor is a fiduciary (legally obligated to act in your best interest) and not just a salesperson. Some advisors don't understand how SS benefits work at all!
That's a really good point. He was my husband's advisor for years, but I'll definitely ask if he's a fiduciary. I hadn't even thought about the commission angle.
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Wait so what happens if you suspend your benefits at 67? Do the kids benefits stop too?? This happened to my cousin and he had NO idea the kids payments would stop when he suspended to get the 8% per year increases!
This is an important point! Yes, if you suspend your retirement benefits at FRA, all benefits paid on your record (including to dependents) are also suspended. Your children would stop receiving payments if you suspend your benefit. This is definitely something to factor into your planning.
Thank you all for the helpful insights! I think I need to weigh the immediate benefit for the twins against my long-term retirement security. Since I'd lose the kids' benefits if I suspend at 67, and my early filing permanently reduces my spousal amount, I'm now leaning toward waiting a couple more years before filing. Maybe I can work part-time a bit longer and file when they're 15 to minimize the early filing reduction while still getting them some benefits before they finish high school. I'll definitely use that Claimyr service to talk with SSA and go through my specific numbers before making the final decision.
Liam O'Donnell
good point about taxes! up to 85% of SS can be taxable if your combined income is high enough
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Jamal Carter
Thank you everyone for all these helpful responses! I've learned so much. Based on what I'm hearing, it makes the most sense for me to claim at my FRA since delaying won't increase my total benefit beyond the 50% spousal benefit cap. And it's good to know that my husband delaying until 70 will increase the survivor benefit I'd receive if he passes away first.I appreciate all of you taking the time to explain this to me with actual numbers!
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