Can I claim Social Security spousal benefits at 62 while still working full-time?

Yes, you can claim spousal benefits at 62 even while working, BUT you need to understand two major things that will affect you: 1) Since you're under your Full Retirement Age and still working, you'll be subject to the Social Security earnings test. For 2025, if you earn over $22,500, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that limit. With your $68,000 salary, most of your spousal benefit would be withheld. 2) Your spousal benefit will be permanently reduced by approximately 30% because you're claiming at 62 instead of your FRA (67). Also important - if you have your own work record, SSA will require you to file for your own retirement benefits first, then they'll pay the additional spousal amount if your husband's benefit would provide more. This is called "deemed filing" and is mandatory if you file before your FRA.

my sister tryed to do this last year and it was a MESS!!!!! she ended up getting almost nothing cause of the earings test thing. they took like ALL of it back. plus now shes stuck with the lower amount forever. dont do it!!!

There's a critical piece of information you need to understand: since you have your own work record AND you're applying before your FRA, you'll be subject to deemed filing rules. This means you MUST file for your own retirement benefits first, and then you'll only get additional spousal benefits if your husband's record would give you more. At 62, your own retirement benefit would be reduced to about 70% of your full amount. Additionally, the maximum spousal benefit is 50% of your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), but that's ALSO reduced to about 35% when claimed at 62. With your earnings of $68,000, the earnings test will likely withhold most or all of your benefits anyway. My recommendation: wait until at least your FRA (67) to file, when the earnings test no longer applies and you'd get the full 50% spousal benefit if it's higher than your own.

Have you created your my Social Security account online yet? You can see estimates of your own benefit at different ages. That might help you compare what you'd get from your own record versus spousal benefits. Just be aware those estimates don't include reductions from early filing or the earnings test.

The SSA is IMPOSSIBLE to reach by phone these days!!! I spent 3 WEEKS trying to ask this EXACT question about spousal benefits. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through - they got me a callback from SSA in under 2 hours! The agent confirmed everything people are saying here about the earnings test. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

DONT FORGET ABOUT TAXES!!!!! If ur making $68k plus then getting SS benefits, up to 85% of those benefits will be TAXABLE!!!! The government really doesnt want us to have anything does it???? just another reason to maybe wait until ur actually ready to retire or at least cut back your hours.

One more thing to consider - waiting until your FRA gives you more flexibility. At FRA, you could choose to file a "restricted application" for ONLY spousal benefits (if you were born before Jan 2, 1954) while letting your own retirement benefit grow until age 70. This strategy could significantly increase your lifetime benefits. Given your current salary and age, waiting is almost certainly your best financial move.

Thank you all SO MUCH for your helpful responses! Based on everything you've shared, I'm going to hold off on claiming any benefits until at least my FRA. It just doesn't make financial sense to claim early with: - The earnings test that would withhold most benefits - Permanent reduction for early claiming - Deemed filing requirements - Tax implications I'm going to look more closely at my own earnings record and see what my benefit would be at 67 versus my husband's spousal benefit amount. Really appreciate all the knowledge and experience shared here!

You made a really smart decision! I went through a similar situation a few years ago and ended up waiting until my FRA - best choice I ever made. One additional tip: since your husband is filing at his FRA in December, make sure you understand exactly what his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) will be. Your spousal benefit will be 50% of that amount when you file at your FRA. Also, don't forget that your own benefit continues to grow with delayed retirement credits if you wait past your FRA until age 70 (8% per year). So you might want to run the numbers on whether it makes sense to take spousal at 67 or wait even longer for your own enhanced benefit. The Social Security Administration has some good calculators on their website that can help you model different scenarios. Good luck with your planning!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the "do-over" option if you change your mind. If you did file early and then realize it was a mistake within the first 12 months, you can withdraw your application (Form SSA-521) and pay back all the benefits you received. You'd then be treated as if you never filed. However, you can only do this ONCE in your lifetime, so it's not something to count on. That said, given your income level and the fact that you're still working full-time, waiting is definitely the smarter move. The math just doesn't work in your favor to file now. Plus, Social Security benefits have built-in inflation protection through COLAs, so waiting doesn't hurt you from that perspective either. Another consideration: if you're planning to work past your FRA anyway, you might want to think about maximizing both you and your husband's benefits by having him delay his filing past his FRA too (if his health allows). His benefit would grow by 8% per year until age 70, which would also increase your potential spousal benefit down the road.

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was in almost the exact same situation two years ago! I was 62, working full-time making around $65k, and my husband was about to claim his benefits at his FRA. After doing a ton of research and talking to a financial planner, I decided to wait - and I'm so grateful I did. Here's what really sealed the deal for me: I calculated that with my salary, the earnings test would have wiped out about 90% of any spousal benefits I could have received. Plus the permanent 30% reduction for filing at 62 meant I'd be stuck with a much smaller benefit forever. Instead, I'm planning to file at my FRA next year and will get the full 50% spousal benefit (assuming it's higher than my own). The peace of mind knowing I made the optimal financial decision has been worth the wait. One thing that helped me was using the SSA's retirement estimator to model different scenarios. Also consider whether you might want to work past 67 - if so, your own benefit could potentially grow larger than the spousal benefit with those delayed retirement credits. You're asking all the right questions now rather than regretting it later. Smart move!

Just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who works in HR and deals with retirement planning questions regularly. You mentioned your husband hasn't worked for 3 years due to health issues - make sure you're also considering potential disability benefits if his condition qualifies. SSDI benefits can sometimes provide more than regular retirement benefits, and if he's receiving SSDI, you might be eligible for auxiliary benefits as his spouse. Also, since you're still working full-time at 62, don't forget to maximize your own earnings record during these final working years. Your Social Security benefit is based on your highest 35 years of earnings, so if you're earning more now than in some of your earlier years, each additional year of work could boost your own future benefit calculation. The consensus here is absolutely right about waiting, but make sure you're optimizing both your and your husband's situations. Sometimes there are benefits people don't know they qualify for that could change the math entirely.

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm actually in a somewhat similar situation - I'm 61 and was considering claiming spousal benefits early when my husband files next year. After reading through all of these responses, I now realize I was about to make a huge mistake. The combination of the earnings test, permanent reduction for early filing, and the deemed filing rules that everyone has explained so clearly would have really hurt my long-term financial security. What strikes me most is how complex Social Security planning really is - there are so many interconnected rules and strategies that aren't obvious on the surface. The suggestion about checking for potential SSDI benefits, considering delayed retirement credits, and even the tax implications are all things I never would have thought to research on my own. Thank you to everyone who shared their personal experiences and professional knowledge. This is exactly the kind of community support that helps people make better financial decisions. I'm definitely going to create my SSA account and start running some scenarios before making any moves!

Welcome to the community, and I'm so glad this discussion has been helpful for multiple people! As someone who works in retirement benefits administration, I wanted to add a few practical tips for when you do start running those scenarios: 1) When using the SSA retirement estimator, pay close attention to the "break-even" analysis between different claiming strategies. The tool will show you at what age the total lifetime benefits become equal between claiming early vs. waiting. 2) Don't forget to factor in Medicare costs when you turn 65. If you're still working and have employer health insurance, you'll need to decide whether to enroll in Medicare Part B or delay it (which could affect your spousal benefit planning). 3) Consider setting up automatic annual reviews of your Social Security statement. Your benefit estimates can change as you earn more or as the SSA updates their calculations, so it's good to track these changes over time. The fact that this conversation has helped multiple people avoid potentially costly mistakes really demonstrates the value of informed community discussions. Social Security planning truly is one of those areas where the wrong decision early on can cost tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Keep asking questions and sharing experiences - that's how we all learn!

As someone who recently navigated this exact decision process, I wanted to share one additional resource that really helped me understand all the nuances everyone has discussed here. The Social Security Administration has a publication called "When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10147) that breaks down all these scenarios with actual dollar examples. What really opened my eyes was seeing the long-term impact in black and white. For example, if your full spousal benefit would be $1,000/month at age 67, claiming at 62 would permanently reduce it to about $650/month. Over a 20-year retirement, that's a difference of $84,000 in lifetime benefits - and that's before factoring in the earnings test that would claw back most of those early payments anyway. The publication also has worksheets to help calculate your break-even points and compare different strategies. Combined with your my Social Security account estimates, it gives you a really clear picture of the financial impact of timing decisions. Given everything discussed here about your situation - the earnings test, permanent reductions, deemed filing rules, and tax implications - waiting until your FRA seems like the clear winner. But having those concrete numbers from the SSA publication might give you even more confidence in that decision.

As someone who just joined this community and has been following this incredibly informative discussion, I wanted to add a perspective about state taxes that I haven't seen mentioned yet. While everyone has covered the federal implications beautifully, don't forget that some states also tax Social Security benefits differently than others. For example, if you're in a state that doesn't tax Social Security benefits at all (like Texas, Florida, or Nevada), the tax burden might be less of a concern. But if you're in a state that does tax these benefits, that's another factor to consider in your timing decision. Also, I wanted to echo what others have said about the value of waiting - but from a slightly different angle. My mother-in-law was in a very similar situation and chose to claim spousal benefits early while working. Not only did the earnings test wipe out most of her benefits, but she also discovered that having even that small amount of Social Security income pushed her into a higher tax bracket for her employment income. It was a triple whammy: reduced benefits, earnings test withholding, AND higher taxes on her salary. The consensus here about waiting until FRA is spot-on. Sometimes the "guaranteed money now" mentality can really backfire when you look at the complete financial picture. This discussion has been such a great example of how complex these decisions really are!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been absolutely amazed by the depth and quality of advice shared in this discussion! I'm currently 64 and facing a similar decision about when to claim benefits, and reading through all these responses has been like getting a masterclass in Social Security planning. What really stands out to me is how this conversation has evolved from a straightforward eligibility question into a comprehensive analysis of earnings tests, deemed filing rules, tax implications, state tax considerations, and even Medicare planning. It's clear that Social Security optimization is far more complex than most people realize. I wanted to add one small point that might be helpful for others following this discussion: if you're considering waiting until FRA or beyond, make sure to also review your spouse's earnings record and projected benefits. Sometimes couples can benefit from coordinating their claiming strategies - for example, one spouse might claim earlier to provide some household income while the other delays to maximize their benefit with delayed retirement credits. Also, for those who mentioned using financial planners, look specifically for advisors who hold the RSSA (Registered Social Security Analyst) certification. They've received specialized training in Social Security optimization strategies and can help navigate all these complex scenarios. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise here. This is exactly the kind of community knowledge-sharing that helps people make better financial decisions for their retirement!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this incredibly detailed discussion and want to thank everyone for creating such a valuable resource! I'm 63 and was actually considering a very similar strategy to what the original poster described, but after reading through all these responses, I now realize I was about to make a significant financial mistake. The explanation of how the earnings test, deemed filing rules, and permanent benefit reductions all work together to create a "perfect storm" against early claiming while working full-time has been eye-opening. I particularly appreciated the real-world examples people shared - like the sister who "got almost nothing" due to the earnings test and the mother-in-law who experienced the "triple whammy" of reduced benefits, earnings test withholding, AND higher taxes. What's really struck me is how this discussion demonstrates that Social Security planning isn't just about knowing the rules - it's about understanding how all these different factors interact with your specific financial situation. The original poster came in with what seemed like a simple eligibility question, but the community helped reveal that the real question is about optimizing a comprehensive retirement strategy. I'm definitely going to check out that SSA publication "When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits" that was mentioned, and I'll be looking for a financial advisor with RSSA certification. Most importantly, I'm going to wait until my FRA rather than rushing into an early claim that could cost me tens of thousands of dollars over my retirement. Thank you to everyone who shared their expertise, experiences, and resources. This is community knowledge-sharing at its finest!