Can I claim spousal SS benefits without my own work credits at FRA while husband already receiving?

Yes, you absolutely can receive spousal benefits based on your husband's record even if you don't have enough work credits for your own benefit! This is exactly what the spousal benefit was designed for. Since your husband is already receiving his benefits, you can apply for the spousal benefit when you're ready. You'll receive 50% of his primary insurance amount (PIA) if you wait until your full retirement age. If you apply before reaching your FRA, your spousal benefit will be permanently reduced - as much as 30% if you claim at 62. If you have some work credits but not enough for your own benefit, those won't affect your spousal benefit amount in this case.

u dont need ur own credits to get hubby benefits. i got mine at 62 cause i needed $$ even tho it was less. but u get more if u wait till FRA. easy peasy just goto SS office with ur marriage license and birth certificate.

I was in your EXACT situation 2 years ago! Didn't have enough credits for my own SS but my husband had been collecting for years. I waited until my FRA (which was 66 and 4 months for me) and now get exactly half of his PIA. The process was really easy - I applied online and had my 50% spousal benefit starting the month after my birthday. The big question is whether you NEED the money now or can wait until FRA for the full 50%. The reduction for taking it early is PERMANENT so think hard about that decision!!! Good luck!!

The Social Security rules on this are actually very clear - spousal benefits were created specifically for people like you who may not have enough work credits on their own record. Here's what you need to know: 1. You can claim spousal benefits as early as age 62, but with a permanent reduction 2. At your FRA, you'll get the full 50% of your husband's PIA (not necessarily 50% of what he actually receives) 3. There's absolutely no advantage to waiting beyond your FRA for spousal benefits - they don't grow with delayed retirement credits 4. The fact that you have some quarters but not enough doesn't affect your spousal benefit amount If you need help navigating the application process, I recommend calling SSA directly. The wait times can be frustrating though.

I don't think anybody's mentioned this, but make sure to check whether you might be eligible for Medicare through your husband too! Many people don't realize that even without enough work credits for SS retirement, you can get Medicare at 65 through your spouse if they qualify. Just another benefit to keep in mind as you figure all this out.

YOUR ENTITLED TO HALF HIS BENFIT!!! The system is designed to help spouses who raised kids and didnt work enough for there own benefits!!! When my sister applied they tried to deny her and said she didn't have enough 'points' but we FOUGHT THEM and she got what she deserved!! Don't let them bully you!! They always try to deny first claim!!! STAND YOUR GROUND!!

I'm wondering about something similar... I only have about 25 quarters but my husband has been getting SS for years. We're separated but not divorced (10 years now). Can I still claim on his record or do you have to be living together? Does anybody know?

One more thing: when you do apply, make sure to gather ALL your documents ahead of time. You'll need birth certificate, marriage certificate, possibly tax returns, etc. My application was delayed by 2 months because I didn't have everything ready. Also, you might want to check out the SSA benefit calculators on their website to see exactly how much you'd get at different ages. That really helped me decide when to take my spousal benefit.

Just wanted to add something important that I learned from my own experience - when you apply for spousal benefits, make sure to ask about retroactive payments! If you're past your FRA when you apply, you can get up to 6 months of back payments. I waited until I was 67 to apply (my FRA was 66 and 8 months) and got those extra months retroactively. Also, once you start receiving spousal benefits, you'll get annual cost-of-living adjustments just like regular SS recipients. The whole process was much smoother than I expected - don't let the paperwork intimidate you!

I'm in a similar situation and found this thread so helpful! One thing I wanted to add - if you're considering taking spousal benefits before your FRA, it might be worth calculating the breakeven point. I used a simple spreadsheet to figure out how many years it would take for the higher FRA amount to make up for the months of reduced payments I'd miss by waiting. For me, the breakeven was around age 78. Since longevity runs in my family, I decided to wait for the full 50%. But if you need the income now or have health concerns, taking it early might make more sense. The peace of mind of having that monthly income can be worth more than the extra dollars down the road. Everyone's situation is different!