Can my husband claim spousal benefits on my higher Social Security record when he turns 70?
I've been doing a lot of research about maximizing our Social Security benefits, but I'm still confused about spousal options. My husband is turning 70 in about 6 months and plans to file for his retirement benefits then. I'm 65 now and haven't filed for my benefits yet because my earnings record is stronger than his. When he files at 70, would he be eligible to receive spousal benefits based on my higher record instead of his own? Or does he have to take his own benefit amount? I thought spousal benefits were only for the lower-earning spouse, but my neighbor mentioned something about both of us being able to get the higher amount. The SSA website is so confusing on this topic! Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
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Luca Ferrari
That's a common misunderstanding. Your husband will receive his own benefit amount when he files at 70, not a spousal benefit based on your record. Spousal benefits only work the other way around - the lower-earning spouse can potentially get up to 50% of the higher earner's benefit (if that's more than their own). Since your benefit will be higher than his, you wouldn't get spousal benefits based on his record either. Each of you will receive your own earned benefit amounts when you claim.
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Zara Khan
•Thank you for explaining! So there's no advantage for him to wait until I file for my benefits then? He should just go ahead and file at 70 for his maximum amount?
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Nia Davis
just went thru this with me and my wife!! the ssa rep told me that whoever has the lower benefit can get the spousal thing, but only up to half of the other persons benefit. and u have to be full retirement age to get the full 50%, otherwise they reduce it. your husband should def claim at 70 - that's the max he can get on his own record! ur neighbor is wrong
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Zara Khan
•Thanks for sharing your experience! That helps clarify things. I wonder if my neighbor was confusing it with survivor benefits (which I hope we won't need to worry about for a long time).
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Mateo Martinez
Let me clear this up with some specifics: 1. At age 70, your husband should absolutely file for his own benefits. He's earned the maximum 32% delayed retirement credits by waiting past his Full Retirement Age (FRA). 2. Since your benefit amount will be higher than his, he would never qualify for spousal benefits on your record. Spousal benefits are only advantageous when they exceed one's own retirement benefit. 3. When YOU file for benefits (whether now or later), you'll get your own retirement benefit based on your work record. 4. The one situation where the higher benefit comes into play is survivor benefits - if either spouse passes away, the surviving spouse receives the higher of the two benefit amounts. Also, be aware that since you're already 65, if you wait until your FRA (probably 66+) to file, you'll get 100% of your benefit. Each year you delay past FRA (up to age 70) adds 8% to your benefit amount. Given your higher benefit, this delayed filing strategy might be advantageous for your household's lifetime benefits.
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Zara Khan
•Thank you so much for that detailed explanation! This makes so much more sense now. I think I'll continue waiting until 70 to maximize my benefit, especially since it would become the survivor benefit if needed down the road.
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QuantumQueen
My wife and I just dealt with this last year. We thought the same thing you did but found out it doesn't work that way. One thing nobody mentioned is that if you haven't filed yet, your husband CAN'T even apply for spousal benefits on your record when he turns 70. You have to be receiving benefits for him to get spousal benefits (not that he would qualify anyway if your benefit is higher than his).
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Zara Khan
•Thank you, that's a really important detail I didn't know! So even if he wanted spousal benefits, he couldn't get them until I file anyway.
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Aisha Rahman
Isn't it crazy how COMPLICATED they make all this?? I spent HOURS trying to figure out the best way for my husband and me to file. The SS website is the worst and calling them is impossible!!!
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Ethan Wilson
•Speaking of calling SSA, I had the same frustration until I tried Claimyr. It's a service that gets you through to a Social Security agent quickly without waiting on hold for hours. Saved me so much stress when I needed to resolve questions about my spousal benefits. I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU) and was skeptical, but it actually worked. The website is claimyr.com if you need to call SSA about your situation.
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Yuki Sato
i think ur all missing a strategy here. if the husband waits til 70 to file, the wife could file for just her spousal benefit at her FRA and then switch to her own higher benefit at 70. that way they get some money now and the max amount later.
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Mateo Martinez
•That strategy (restricted application for spousal benefits only) is no longer available for people born after January 1, 1954. Based on the ages provided, the wife would have been born around 1960, so she would not be eligible to use this strategy. When she files, she'll automatically receive the higher of either her own benefit or the spousal benefit, but not both sequentially.
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Zara Khan
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I've learned so much from this discussion. Just to summarize what I understand now: 1. My husband should go ahead and file for his own benefits when he turns 70. 2. He can't receive spousal benefits based on my record because his own benefit will be more than half of mine. 3. When I decide to file (likely at 70), I'll get my own benefit amount. 4. The higher benefit (mine) will become the survivor benefit if one of us passes away. I appreciate everyone taking the time to explain this. The Social Security rules can be so confusing!
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