Can I apply for spousal Social Security benefits online or need in-person appointment at 62?

Yes, you can apply for both at the same time through the online application! When you complete the application for retirement benefits, there's a section that asks if you're also applying for spousal benefits. Make sure you answer "yes" to that question and provide your husband's Social Security number. The system will then automatically determine which benefit gives you the higher amount. Just keep in mind that filing at 62 means you'll get a permanently reduced benefit - both on your own record and on the spousal benefit. You'll get approximately 70% of your full retirement age benefit and only about 32.5% of your husband's benefit amount instead of the full 50% you'd get at your full retirement age.

i filed last yr and yes u can do it all online its pretty easy actually. just make sure u have ur husbands SSN and his date of birth. the online thing walks u thru it step by step. took me like 30 min tops

I tried doing this last year and it was a NIGHTMARE!! The online system kept crashing when I tried to add my husband's information. Ended up having to call them anyway. And then they told me I wasn't eligible for spouse benefits because my own benefit was higher!!! Wasted hours for nothing. Good luck!

The online application does allow you to apply for both retirement and spousal benefits simultaneously. However, there are some important factors to consider: 1. If your own retirement benefit is higher than your spousal benefit (even with the reduction for filing early), you'll only receive your own benefit. 2. If your spousal benefit would be higher, you'll receive your own benefit plus the difference to equal the spousal amount. 3. At 62, your own benefit is reduced to about 70% of your full amount, and your spousal benefit is reduced to about 32.5% of your husband's full benefit amount. 4. The online system should calculate all this automatically once you provide both your work history and your husband's information. If you have a complicated situation (previous marriages, foreign work, government pension, etc.), then an appointment might be better. Otherwise, the online application should handle everything.

I tried to call the SS office for 2 weeks and couldn't get through. Then someone told me about this service called Claimyr that got me through to a live agent in 20 minutes. You might want to check out their video at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU to see how it works. Saved me from having to drive an hour to the office. The agent was able to confirm that I could apply for both benefits online, but she also answered some other questions I had.

My sister just went through this last month! She did everything online and it worked fine. Got her first payment 4 weeks later. But when she checked her account the benefit amount was less than she expected and now she's trying to figure out if they calculated it wrong or if that's just how much she gets.

You can absolutely apply for both simultaneously online. The SSA's system is designed to evaluate all benefits you might be eligible for when you submit your retirement application. Here's what happens with your application: 1. You'll apply for your retirement benefits online at ssa.gov 2. In the application, you'll indicate that you're married and provide your husband's information including his SSN 3. The system automatically determines whether you qualify for spousal benefits 4. SSA will pay you the higher of either your own benefit or the combination of your benefit plus a spousal supplement One important note: If you're still working, be aware of the earnings limit ($22,320 for 2025 when you're under full retirement age). Earning over this amount will reduce your benefits temporarily until you reach your full retirement age.

somebody said u get both benefits added together thats wrong!!! u only get the higher of the two not both added up. my cousin thought she was gonna get both and was real disappointed

Just wanted to add a helpful tip from my recent experience - when you're filling out the online application, make sure you have all your documents ready beforehand! You'll need your birth certificate, marriage certificate, and your husband's Social Security number and date of birth. Also, the application will ask about any previous marriages for both you and your husband, so have those dates handy too if applicable. The whole process took me about 45 minutes, but I had to start over once because I didn't have all the info I needed. One more thing - after you submit, you'll get a confirmation receipt number. Screenshot it or write it down! I needed it when I had to call them later about a minor issue with my direct deposit setup.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! Yes, you can definitely apply for both your retirement and spousal benefits in the same online application. When you get to the section about being married, make sure you answer "yes" to applying for spousal benefits and have your husband's SSN ready. One thing that really helped me was using the SSA's benefit estimator tool first (on their website) to get a rough idea of what to expect before I applied. It showed me that my own benefit would be higher than the spousal benefit, so I knew I wouldn't get any additional spousal money - but at least I wasn't surprised when that's what happened. The online application saved me so much time compared to trying to get through on the phone. I did it on a weekend morning and it went pretty smoothly. Just make sure you have a good internet connection because it does time out if you're idle too long!

I just went through this process myself about 2 months ago at age 62! You can absolutely apply for both benefits in the same online application - it's actually pretty straightforward once you get started. When you fill out the retirement application online, there's a specific section where they ask if you want to apply for spousal benefits too. Just make sure you have your husband's Social Security number and birth date ready. The system will automatically calculate which benefit scenario gives you the most money. One thing I learned: even though I was eligible for spousal benefits, my own work record ended up giving me a higher benefit amount, so I only receive my own retirement benefit (not both). But the good news is SSA figured all that out automatically - I didn't have to do separate calculations or applications. The whole process took me about an hour online, and I received my first payment about 5 weeks later. Much easier than dealing with phone calls or office visits! Just make sure you have all your documents ready before you start.

I just wanted to add one more important tip that helped me when I applied online last year - make sure to apply in the month you want your benefits to start! Social Security can't pay retroactive benefits for more than 6 months, and if you're filing at 62, you want to maximize every month you can get. I made the mistake of waiting until the middle of the month to apply, thinking it didn't matter, but then realized I could have gotten a partial payment for that month if I had applied earlier. It's not a huge amount of money, but every bit helps when you're starting benefits early. Also, after you submit your application, you should get an email confirmation within a few days, and then they'll mail you a letter with your official award amount. The online application will give you an estimate, but the official letter has all the details about Medicare enrollment too, which happens automatically when you start receiving benefits. Good luck with your application - sounds like you've gotten some great advice here!

I'm in a very similar situation - turning 62 in a couple months and my husband has been collecting for about 2 years now. This thread has been incredibly helpful! I was also dreading having to call or make an appointment. One question I haven't seen addressed yet - does anyone know if there are any issues with applying online if you have a maiden name that's different from your current married name? I've been married for 28 years but still have some old work records under my maiden name. I'm worried the system might not be able to match everything up correctly. Also, for those who applied online successfully, did you need to upload copies of documents like your marriage certificate, or does the system just ask for the information and verify it some other way? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing!

I went through this exact process about 8 months ago and can confirm that yes, you can absolutely apply for both your retirement benefits and spousal benefits in the same online application! The key thing to remember is that when you get to the section about being married, make sure you answer "yes" to also applying for spousal benefits and have your husband's Social Security number ready. The system will automatically calculate which scenario gives you the higher benefit amount. Since you mentioned you're worried about missing out on money - don't stress too much about this part. Social Security will automatically pay you whichever benefit amount is higher. So if your own retirement benefit ends up being more than what you'd get as a spouse, you'll just receive your own benefit. If the spousal benefit would be higher, you'll get your own benefit plus the difference to equal the spousal amount. The online application took me about 45 minutes, and I had my first payment about 6 weeks later. Much better than trying to get through on those phone lines! Just make sure you have your birth certificate, marriage certificate, and your husband's SSN and birth date ready before you start. The system does time out if you're idle too long. Good luck - you've got this!

I just wanted to add some encouragement as someone who was in your exact shoes about a year ago! I was also 62, married to someone already collecting, and absolutely dreaded the thought of trying to navigate the SSA phone system or making an appointment. The online application really is the way to go. What I found helpful was setting aside a Saturday morning when I had no distractions, making sure my laptop was plugged in (so no battery issues), and having a cup of coffee ready. I laid out all my documents beforehand - birth certificate, marriage certificate, husband's SSN written on a sticky note, and our marriage date. The application walks you through everything step by step, and when you get to the spousal benefits section, it's very clear about what information they need. One thing that surprised me was how thorough they are about work history - they had records going back to my very first job in the 1980s! After I submitted everything, I got an email confirmation within about 48 hours, and then received my official award letter in the mail about 2 weeks later. My first payment came exactly 5 weeks after I applied. You mentioned being worried about doing everything correctly - honestly, the system is pretty foolproof. And if there are any issues, they'll contact you to clarify rather than just rejecting your application. You've got this!

I'm actually going through this exact same process right now and just wanted to share what I learned from calling the national SSA number (1-800-772-1213) instead of trying to reach my local office. I got through in about 20 minutes by calling first thing in the morning around 8 AM. The representative confirmed that yes, you can absolutely apply for both retirement and spousal benefits in the same online application. She also mentioned that if you're having trouble with the online system, you can start your application online and then call back to complete it over the phone with an agent - that way you don't lose all your progress if the website times out. One thing she emphasized that I hadn't seen mentioned here yet: make sure you apply in the month you want benefits to begin, because they can only backdate retirement benefits up to 6 months, and at 62 every month counts since you're taking the early filing reduction. The representative also suggested that after I submit my online application, I should create a my Social Security account online if I don't already have one. That way I can track the status of my application and eventually manage my benefits electronically once they start. Hope this helps - sounds like we're all in similar boats here trying to navigate this system!