Can I switch to spousal Social Security benefits at 73 when my husband turns 65 next year?
I need some help understanding spousal Social Security benefits. I started taking my own SS benefits early at 62 (I'm 73 now), and my monthly payment is only about $1,250. My husband is turning 65 in October 2025 and hasn't filed for his benefits yet. His earnings were much higher than mine throughout our working years, and his estimated benefit is around $2,800 per month. What I'm confused about is whether I can get half of his benefit amount when he files? Would I be able to switch to a spousal benefit that's 50% of his amount since that would be more than what I'm getting now? Or am I stuck with my reduced benefit forever because I claimed early? I've tried reading the SSA website, but I get overwhelmed with all the technical information. If anyone could explain this in simple terms, I'd really appreciate it!
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Daniel White
Since you already started collecting your own retirement benefits, you won't be able to get the full 50% spousal benefit. When your husband files, the SSA will calculate what's called a "excess spousal benefit" - that's the difference between your benefit and up to 50% of his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). Since you took your benefits early at 62, your own benefit was permanently reduced. But the good news is you MIGHT still get a bump when your husband files. If half of his PIA is more than your current reduced benefit, you'll get the difference added to your current payment. For example, if half of his PIA is $1,400 and you're getting $1,250, you'd get an additional $150 per month. But remember, the calculation is based on his PIA, not his actual benefit amount if he takes it early or delays.
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Abigail Patel
•Thank you for explaining that! I had no idea it worked that way. So I won't actually get a whole new benefit, just possibly a bump up in what I'm already getting? Does that happen automatically when he files or do I need to apply for it separately?
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Nolan Carter
when my wife filed they just automatically gave her the extra on top of hers, we didnt have to do anything special. they just sent a letter saying they were adjusting her payment. your milage may vary lol
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Abigail Patel
•That's reassuring to hear! I was worried I'd have to go through a whole complicated process. I hope they do the same for me.
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Natalia Stone
I want to clarify a couple of important details here: 1. The spousal benefit calculation is indeed based on your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), which is what he would receive at his Full Retirement Age (FRA), not what he actually receives when he claims. 2. Since you're already past your FRA (which would have been around 66), your spousal benefit won't be reduced for age factors on the spousal portion. 3. When your husband files, SSA should automatically calculate and adjust your benefit if you're eligible for the additional amount. However, it doesn't hurt to contact them when he files to make sure. 4. This is called a "deemed filing" situation - you're deemed to be filing for all benefits you're eligible for. One more thing to consider: if your husband is considering delaying his own benefits until 70 to maximize them, you won't get any spousal add-on until he actually files. So there's a family strategy consideration there.
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Abigail Patel
•Thank you for this detailed explanation! So if he waits until 70 to maximize his benefit, I won't get any spousal benefits until then? That's really helpful to know as we're trying to decide the best time for him to file. We hadn't thought about how his decision affects my benefit too.
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Tasia Synder
I think everyone is forgetting to mention the Government Pension Offset (GPO) which could wipe out your spousal benefits if you ever worked for the government! My friend got ZERO spousal benefits because of this rule. They don't tell you about this until it's too late!!
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Natalia Stone
•That's a good point about GPO, but it only applies if the person worked in a government job where they didn't pay into Social Security. The original poster didn't mention having government employment, so it may not be relevant to her situation. But yes, GPO can reduce or eliminate spousal benefits for those who receive pensions from non-covered government employment.
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Abigail Patel
•Neither of us worked for the government, so I don't think this applies to us. But thanks for bringing it up - I hadn't even heard of this rule before!
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Selena Bautista
Just wanted to say I'm in almost the exact same boat! I'm 72 and took benefits at 62 (wish I hadn't now but water under the bridge). My husband is filing next month and the SSA rep told me I'll get about $320 extra per month as the spousal add-on. Not life-changing but definitely helpful for groceries these days!!
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Abigail Patel
•That's so helpful to hear from someone in a similar situation! Even a few hundred extra would make a difference for us too. Did they calculate this automatically for you or did you have to specifically ask?
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Selena Bautista
•They said they'd do it automatically, but honestly I don't trust them to get it right. I made an appointment and went in person to make sure. Glad I did because they had some questions about my work history.
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Mohamed Anderson
I've been trying to get through to Social Security for WEEKS about this exact issue!!! Every time I call, I get disconnected after waiting on hold for over an hour. Their online system is useless for questions like this and my local office has no appointments available for 3 MONTHS!!! HOW is anyone supposed to plan their retirement when you can't even get basic questions answered?? This system is BROKEN.
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Ellie Perry
•I had the same problem trying to reach them about my disability review. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr. It's a service that gets you through to a real SSA agent without the crazy wait times. I was skeptical but tried their service and got through in about 20 minutes instead of spending hours redialing. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Saved me so much frustration since I had already tried calling for weeks with no luck.
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Nolan Carter
the real question nobody is asking - is it better for him to claim now or wait? does the extra you would get now make up for him getting less forever? gotta do the math
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Natalia Stone
•This is an excellent point. It's about family maximization strategy, not just individual benefits. For example, if waiting until 70 would increase his benefit by $800/month permanently, but starting at 65 would give the spouse an extra $150/month for those 5 years, the long-term math usually favors waiting - especially if he has good longevity prospects. Ideally, you'd calculate: 1. The total additional spousal benefits received during the waiting period 2. The permanent increase to his benefit by delaying 3. Consider life expectancy for both spouses 4. Factor in survivor benefits (the surviving spouse can step up to the higher earner's full benefit) For most couples, having the higher earner delay to 70 is mathematically advantageous if they're in reasonably good health.
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Mohamed Anderson
My sister worked for SSA for 35 years and told me they NEVER automatically give you the best deal! You HAVE to ask specifically or they'll just keep quiet and you lose money forever! They shoulda told you all this when you first applied but they dont care about us seniors!
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Daniel White
•This isn't entirely accurate. While it's always good to be informed about your benefits, the SSA systems are designed to automatically calculate dual entitlement (when someone is eligible for their own retirement plus spousal benefits). However, it is true that they don't automatically *advise* you on claiming strategies that might maximize your benefits. They'll process what you apply for, but they don't typically suggest when you should file or how to coordinate between spouses. That's why it's good to do research or talk to a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies.
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Abigail Patel
Thank you all for the helpful information! I've learned so much from this discussion. We're going to reconsider when my husband should file based on all your advice about spousal and survivor benefits. I think we need to look at this as a family strategy rather than just individual benefits like someone suggested. I'm also going to make an appointment with our local SSA office to make sure we understand all our options before making a decision. The difference between filing at 65 versus waiting until 70 could mean tens of thousands of dollars over our lifetime. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain things so clearly!
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