Can I switch from my own Social Security to spousal benefits at age 72?

Yes, you can definitely apply for spousal benefits even though you've been collecting your own retirement for several years! Since you're already past your FRA (which would have been 66 years for your birth year), you're eligible for the maximum spousal benefit - 50% of your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount). But there's an important detail: you won't receive your full benefit PLUS half of his. Instead, you'll receive the higher of either your own benefit or the spousal benefit. In your case, SSA will pay your own $1,250, plus the difference to bring you up to the spousal amount (about $175 extra per month). You should contact SSA right away because they won't automatically switch you - you have to apply for the spousal benefit.

My situation was almost identical!!! I waited 14 months after my husband's FRA before I realized I could get the higher spousal amount. When I finally got through to SSA they told me I could only get 6 months of backpay even though I was eligible for longer. MAKE SURE you apply ASAP because they limit retroactive benefits!!!!

i think everyone is confusion this is not how spousal benefits work. you CANT switch to spousal if you already took your own bene's early. the rules changed in 2015 with that new law. you are stuck with what you got plus maybe a small addon

I had almost this exact scenario with my parents last year. My mom had been collecting her own SS for years while my dad was on disability. When SSA converted him to retirement benefits, she didn't know she needed to apply for spousal. She spent THREE WEEKS trying to reach someone at SSA by phone! I finally helped her use Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a live person at SSA. They have this service where they navigate the phone systems for you and call you back when they have a live agent on the line. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Within a day she had applied for the spousal benefit and started receiving the extra amount the following month. She also got the maximum 6 months of backpay they allow for retroactive spousal claims.

does anyone know if this works if the husband didn't reach FRA yet? my husband is 64 taking early SS and i'm 67 past my FRA but taking my own benefit. can i get the extra spousal part now or do i have to wait until he's at his FRA?

This drives me CRAZY about the SSA!!! Why don't they automatically give people the highest benefit they're entitled to?? Instead they make you figure it all out yourself and apply for everything separately. You probably missed out on thousands of dollars because no one at Social Security bothered to tell you that you could get the higher amount. The whole system is designed to keep people from getting their full benefits. SMH.

Just went through this with my wife! Make sure when you talk to SSA you specifically request the "excess spousal benefit" - that's the technical term for getting your own retirement plus the difference to reach half of your husband's amount. Also, once approved, double-check your first payment to make sure they calculated it correctly. They made an error on my wife's first payment and it took 3 months to fix!

Since you're asking about switching from your own benefit to a spousal benefit, I want to clarify how this will work in your situation. Because you claimed your own retirement benefit before your Full Retirement Age, and because current rules apply to your case (post-2015 law changes), you won't actually "switch" benefits in the way you might be thinking. Instead, if eligible for both retirement and spousal benefits, you receive the higher of: 1. Your own benefit (reduced because you claimed early) 2. Your spousal benefit (reduced if you claimed spousal before your FRA) In practice, this means you'll continue receiving your own $1,250, plus an additional amount (called the "excess spousal benefit") to bring your total up to the spousal benefit amount you're eligible for. Since you're past your FRA now, and your husband is receiving benefits, you should definitely contact SSA to apply for the spousal benefit. The potential increase of $175 monthly would be $2,100 annually - definitely worth pursuing!

I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. You're absolutely eligible for the spousal benefit increase! Since you're 72 (past your FRA) and your husband is receiving retirement benefits, you can apply for spousal benefits immediately. You'll receive your current $1,250 plus approximately $175 monthly to reach the spousal benefit amount. A few important tips: - Don't delay applying - you can only get up to 6 months of retroactive payments - When you call SSA, ask specifically for "excess spousal benefits" - Consider visiting your local SSA office if phone wait times are too long - Have your husband's Social Security number ready when you apply The application process is straightforward once you reach someone. You're looking at an extra $2,100+ annually, so it's definitely worth pursuing. Good luck getting through to them!

I went through something very similar about 18 months ago! I had been collecting my reduced retirement benefit since age 62, and when my husband finally filed for his benefits at his FRA, I had no idea I could get additional spousal benefits. Like you, I couldn't get through on the phone - it was incredibly frustrating. What finally worked for me was going to my local SSA office first thing in the morning without an appointment. I got there about 30 minutes before they opened and was one of the first people seen. The whole process took about 45 minutes once I sat down with a representative. They were able to calculate my excess spousal benefit on the spot and process the application immediately. In my case, I started receiving the additional amount the following month, plus they gave me 4 months of retroactive payments (I wish I had known sooner!). The extra monthly amount has been a real help with rising costs. One thing the representative emphasized was that I needed to specifically ask for the spousal benefit application - they don't automatically check if you're eligible for higher benefits. Definitely don't wait any longer since you're already missing out on money you're entitled to!