Can I claim my Social Security now at 62 then switch to spousal benefits when husband retires at 67?

The rules changed in 2015 with the Bipartisan Budget Act. Unfortunately, you can no longer take your own benefit first and then switch to the higher spousal benefit later. When your husband files at 67, you'll receive the higher of either your own benefit or your spousal benefit (which would be up to 50% of his PIA), but not both. If you claim at 62, your own benefit will be permanently reduced by about 30%, AND your eventual spousal benefit will also be permanently reduced because you claimed early.

The previous commenter is correct about the rule change. If you take your benefits now at 62, both your own retirement benefit AND your eventual spousal benefit will be permanently reduced. The reduction to your spousal benefit would be approximately 35% if you claim 4 years before your Full Retirement Age (FRA). So instead of getting $1,600 (half of your husband's), you'd get about $1,040 as a spousal benefit. Since that's less than your reduced own benefit, you'd just continue receiving your own.

my sister did this and regrets it SO MUCH!!! she took benefits at 62 and can barely live on them. when her husband claimed his, her spousal increase was tiny because she took early benefits. wait if you can!!!!

Have you considered working a bit longer? Even part-time work could help you bridge the gap until you reach your FRA. That way you wouldn't need to claim early and reduce your lifetime benefits.

I was in a similar situation last year. Tried for WEEKS to get through to SSA to discuss my options. Kept getting busy signals or disconnected. Finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in under 10 minutes! They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent walked me through all my options and helped me understand exactly how the reduction would affect my spousal benefits later. Worth it to get accurate information for your specific situation instead of guessing.

Just wondering but did u check if ur eligible for spousal benefits NOW based on ur husbands record? If he hasn't filed yet probably not but just checking

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. I've decided to try to hold off on claiming as long as possible, maybe look for some very part-time work, and definitely call SSA to get exact numbers for my situation. I appreciate all the advice!

Another suggestion - check if you qualify for any other programs while you wait. Depending on your assets and income, you might be eligible for assistance programs that could help bridge the gap until you reach your FRA. Each state has different options available.

One additional consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to factor in healthcare costs during those gap years if you're not working. If you're getting health insurance through a spouse's employer plan, that's great, but if not, you'll need to budget for individual coverage until you're eligible for Medicare at 65. COBRA from a previous employer might be an option but can be expensive. The premium costs could eat into any financial advantage of waiting to claim Social Security, so definitely include that in your calculations when deciding whether to wait or claim early.

One thing that might help while you're waiting is to create a my Social Security account on ssa.gov if you haven't already. You can see your exact earnings record and get personalized benefit estimates for different claiming ages. This will give you precise numbers for your situation rather than estimates. The account also shows you exactly what your spousal benefit would be at different ages, which can help you make a more informed decision. It's free and gives you access to official SSA calculators that factor in your specific work history and earnings.

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Just turned 62 last month and my husband is 61. The more I research this, the more I realize how complicated these decisions are. One thing I learned that might help you - if you do decide to work part-time while waiting, be careful about the earnings test. If you claim Social Security before your FRA and earn more than $22,320 in 2024, they'll reduce your benefits by $1 for every $2 you earn above that limit. So you'd want to make sure any part-time work keeps you under that threshold if you do decide to claim early. Also, I found a really helpful tool on AARP's website that lets you model different scenarios - it's called the Social Security Benefits Calculator. It's not as detailed as the official SSA site, but it's easier to use for comparing different claiming strategies. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was facing a similar decision - consider looking into whether you might qualify for any retirement account withdrawals to bridge the gap. If you have a 401(k) or IRA, you can start penalty-free withdrawals at 59½, and there are some strategies like the Rule of 55 or SEPP (Substantially Equal Periodic Payments) that might let you access funds earlier if needed. Obviously you'd want to talk to a financial advisor about the tax implications, but it could be another way to create income while waiting to claim Social Security at your full retirement age. The key is having multiple income sources during those gap years so you're not forced into claiming early and permanently reducing your benefits. Also, don't forget that every year you delay past 62 increases your benefit - it's not just about waiting until FRA, your benefit continues to grow until you hit 70. Given the significant difference between your projected benefit and your husband's, maximizing your own benefit while preserving the option for higher spousal benefits later could really pay off in the long run.

I'm a benefits counselor and I see this confusion all the time. The key thing to understand is that once you file for any Social Security benefit before your Full Retirement Age, you're essentially making a permanent decision that affects ALL future benefits on your record. The "file and suspend" strategy that used to allow switching between benefits was eliminated in 2015. Here's what I tell my clients: create a detailed budget for those gap years and explore ALL income options - part-time work under the earnings limit, retirement account withdrawals, spousal support, even temporary assistance programs. The math usually shows that waiting pays off significantly over your lifetime, especially when you factor in cost-of-living adjustments on the higher benefit amount. Also remember that your decision affects not just your retirement benefits but also potential survivor benefits for your spouse. I'd strongly recommend getting your exact benefit projections from SSA (either online or through their phone service) and possibly consulting with a financial planner who specializes in Social Security strategies before making this irreversible decision.

I went through this exact decision three years ago and I'm so glad I waited! I was 62 with similar numbers to yours - my projected benefit was around $1,500 vs my husband's $3,100. The pressure to claim early was intense because we needed the income, but I ended up doing freelance consulting work and drawing carefully from our 401(k) to bridge the gap. Now that I'm at my FRA, my monthly benefit is about $600 higher than it would have been if I'd claimed at 62. Over my lifetime, that adds up to potentially $100,000+ more in benefits. Yes, those gap years were tight financially, but looking back it was absolutely worth it. The hardest part was getting accurate information - I must have called SSA a dozen times and got different answers each time. Finally went to their local office and sat down with someone who walked through my exact situation with printouts. My advice: get your personalized benefit statement, run the numbers on waiting vs claiming early, and factor in ALL costs during the gap years including healthcare. The math will help you make the decision that's right for your specific situation.

I'm a Social Security Administration representative and want to clarify a few important points I'm seeing in this discussion. First, you're absolutely right that the "file and suspend" and "restricted application" strategies were eliminated for most people born after 1954. However, I want to emphasize that you DO have options to change your mind - but only within a very limited timeframe. If you claim benefits and then change your mind, you have exactly 12 months from your initial filing date to withdraw your application completely. You'd have to pay back every penny received, but this would restore your record as if you never filed. After that 12-month window closes, your decision becomes permanent. Also, I want to address the misinformation about getting "different answers" from SSA - our representatives are trained to give consistent information, but your individual situation may have nuances that require a more detailed review. I'd strongly encourage you to schedule an appointment at your local Social Security office rather than calling, as this allows for a thorough review of your complete earnings record and personalized projections. Finally, please be cautious about third-party services claiming to help you reach SSA faster - always use our official website at ssa.gov or call our main number directly.

Thank you all for this incredibly detailed and helpful discussion! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed by how supportive and knowledgeable everyone is here. I'm actually facing a very similar decision myself - I'll be 62 next year and my husband is planning to wait until his FRA to claim. Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening, especially learning about how the 2015 rule changes eliminated the file-and-suspend strategy. The real-world experiences shared here, particularly from those who waited and found it beneficial long-term, are invaluable. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about setting up a my Social Security account online and scheduling an in-person appointment at my local SSA office. It's clear that getting personalized, official projections is crucial before making such a permanent decision. The point about factoring in healthcare costs during gap years is something I hadn't fully considered either. Thanks to everyone who contributed - this thread should be required reading for anyone approaching these decisions!

As someone who's been helping people navigate Social Security decisions for over 15 years, I want to emphasize a few key points that haven't been fully explored yet. First, consider the "break-even" analysis - calculate how many years it would take for the higher monthly payments from waiting to offset the payments you'd miss by not claiming at 62. In your case, with a $1,400 early benefit versus roughly $1,866 at FRA (assuming a standard reduction), you'd break even around age 78-79. Given average life expectancies, this often favors waiting if you're in good health. Second, don't overlook the compounding effect of cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). These percentage increases apply to your base benefit amount, so a higher base means more dollars in COLA increases each year. Over a 20+ year retirement, this can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. Finally, I'd suggest looking into whether you qualify for any spousal Social Security benefits based on a previous marriage. If you were married for 10+ years to someone who's already claiming benefits, you might be eligible for divorced spousal benefits without affecting your ex-spouse's benefits at all. This could provide some income now while preserving your ability to claim your own higher benefit later. Just another option to explore when you meet with SSA!