Can ex-spouse Social Security benefits increase if they took early retirement but I wait until my FRA?
I'm really confused about how ex-spouse benefits work with FRA calculations. My ex-husband started collecting his Social Security at 62 (about 2 years ago). When I called SSA last month, they told me what I'd qualify for at my full retirement age based on his record, but I'm wondering - will that amount increase over the next 3 years until I reach my FRA at 67? Does his benefit amount continue to grow even though he's already collecting early? Or is my potential ex-spouse benefit already locked in at whatever his PIA was when he filed early? The SSA rep didn't clearly explain this part and I'm worried I might be leaving money on the table.
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Ethan Wilson
Your ex-spouse benefit is based on your ex's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is what he would have received at his full retirement age - not what he's actually receiving after taking benefits early. So the fact that he's collecting early doesn't reduce what you can get as an ex-spouse. Your benefit amount as an ex-spouse is equal to 50% of his PIA at your FRA. The only things that would cause his PIA to increase now would be cost of living adjustments (COLAs) or if he returned to work and had higher earnings years that increased his calculation.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Thank you for explaining! So if there are COLAs over the next 3 years before I reach my FRA, would my potential ex-spouse benefit increase to reflect those? Or is it frozen at whatever the SSA quoted me last month?
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NeonNova
I think ur overthinking this one. My ex took early SS and I still got half of what he WOULD have got at his full age, not half of his reduced benefit. they explained it pretty clear at the office when i went. Doesn't matter when he took it.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Thanks for your input. I'm not worried about it being reduced because he took it early - I understand I get based on his FRA amount. My question is whether that amount will still grow with COLAs between now and when I file in 3 years.
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Yuki Tanaka
To clarify what others have said, your ex-spouse benefit will include all COLAs that occur between now and when you file at your FRA. So yes, the amount you were quoted will likely increase over the next three years. What won't change is the base calculation of his PIA (unless he returns to work and has higher earnings that change his calculation). But all the annual cost of living increases that happen between now and when you claim will be added to your benefit. Also make sure to compare this amount with your own retirement benefit at FRA - you'll receive whichever is higher, not both. And remember that for ex-spouse benefits, you need to have been married at least 10 years and currently be unmarried.
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Aisha Abdullah
•This is exactly what I needed to know! We were married for 22 years, and I'm still unmarried. My own benefit will probably be lower as I had several years out of the workforce raising our children. Makes sense that the COLAs would apply - that makes me feel better about waiting until my FRA rather than taking benefits early.
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Carmen Diaz
just wanna say im in almost the exact same boat!!!! ex took his at 62 and im waiting till my FRA in 2 years. the amount they told me last year already went up with the 2025 COLA so yes it does increase!!
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Andre Laurent
•This isn't entirely accurate. What increases is the dollar amount due to COLAs, but the PERCENTAGE doesn't change. You'll still get 50% of your ex's PIA (assuming you claim at your FRA), but his PIA will have increased due to COLAs. This is an important distinction because some people mistakenly think the percentage goes up over time.
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Emily Jackson
I tried calling Social Security FIVE TIMES last week to ask almost this exact question and couldn't get through to anyone!!! The phone system is a NIGHTMARE. Even when I waited on hold for over an hour, I got disconnected. The website doesn't explain this clearly either. It's like they WANT us to miss out on benefits we're entitled to by making everything so complicated!!!
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Liam Mendez
•I had the same issue trying to get through to SSA about my disability review. After three disconnected calls and hours on hold, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person in about 20 minutes. It basically holds your place in line and calls you when a rep is available. Saved me so much frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Totally worth it for complicated questions like this where you need to talk to an actual person.
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Andre Laurent
Let me clarify the technical aspects: Your ex-spouse benefit is based on your ex's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the benefit amount at his full retirement age regardless of when he actually claimed. This amount gets adjusted annually with COLAs. When you reach your FRA, you'll receive 50% of his PIA (including all COLAs up to that point). His decision to take benefits early reduced HIS monthly payment by a permanent percentage, but has no impact on YOUR spousal benefit calculation. If you claim before your own FRA, YOUR benefit would be reduced based on how early you claim. But since you're waiting until your FRA, you'll get the full 50% of his PIA with all accumulated COLAs.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Thank you for the detailed explanation! That makes perfect sense now. I'm definitely planning to wait until my FRA to avoid any reductions. The SSA rep I spoke with wasn't clear about the COLA part, which was causing my confusion.
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NeonNova
My cousin took her ex spousal benefit at 62 and regrets it SO MUCH cause it got reduced like 30%! Def wait for ur FRA if u can afford to!
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Yuki Tanaka
•This is good advice. Taking ex-spouse benefits early results in the same reduction percentages as taking your own retirement benefits early. At 62, that's approximately a 30% permanent reduction from what you'd get at FRA. The only time it might make sense to claim early is if you absolutely need the income or have health concerns that might limit your longevity.
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Carmen Diaz
wait im confused does this mean my ex taking SS early screws me over? or not? can someone explain this in simple terms plz
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Ethan Wilson
•No, your ex taking Social Security early does NOT affect your benefit amount. Your ex-spouse benefit is based on what your ex would have received at their full retirement age (their PIA), NOT what they actually receive after early retirement reductions. The only thing that reduces YOUR ex-spouse benefit is if YOU take it before YOUR full retirement age. If your ex takes it early, it has zero impact on your potential benefit amount.
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