Confused about spousal benefits adjustment when husband reaches FRA in 2025 - will mine increase automatically?

at FRA you might get spousal benefits if your husband's benefit at FRA is more than 2x your benefit that youre getting. since you took yours early its permanently reduced. if he waits to file you wont get anything til he files. the spousal portion is 50% of his FRA benefit minus your FRA benefit.

I can help clarify your spousal benefit situation. First, you're correct about the FRA dates: your husband's FRA is 66 and 8 months (not 67), so his FRA would be November 2024 if he was born in March 1958. Your FRA at 66 and 10 months in May 2025 is also correct. Here's how spousal benefits work in your situation: 1. You will NOT receive any spousal benefits until your husband actually files for his retirement benefits. There's no automatic adjustment based on him reaching FRA alone. 2. When he does file, Social Security will calculate your spousal benefit as the greater of: your own benefit OR up to 50% of your husband's primary insurance amount (his FRA benefit amount) minus your own primary insurance amount. 3. Since you took your benefits early, your own benefit is permanently reduced. This reduction will factor into your spousal benefit calculation. 4. When you reach your FRA, there's no automatic adjustment to your benefits. The only thing that changes at your FRA is that you're no longer subject to the earnings test if you're working. I recommend scheduling an appointment with SSA when your husband is ready to file to understand exactly how much spousal benefit you might receive.

My wife got so confusd by all this too!! She took hers at 62 and I waited till my FRA to file. When I filed, they automatically added the spousal to her check but it wasnt that much extra. It was like $238 more a month. But every dollar helps I guess right?

This system is RIDICULOUS! I went through the exact same confusion last year. The SSA website is deliberately confusing and when you call them you get different answers depending on who you talk to. I waited 2.5 HOURS on hold last time I called about this exact issue. What I discovered is they don't explain the rules clearly because they don't want people to maximize their benefits. My advice is to keep calling until you get someone who actually knows what they're talking about. The first person I spoke with gave me COMPLETELY WRONG information about my spousal benefits.

I want to clarify a few important points about your spousal benefit situation: 1. Your husband's FRA (born in 1958) is 66 years and 8 months, so that would be November 2024 if his birthday is in March. 2. Your FRA (born in 1959) is 66 years and 10 months, so May 2025 is correct. 3. Since you claimed your own benefits early at 64, your retirement benefit is permanently reduced (approximately 13.3% reduction). 4. Spousal benefit calculation: When your husband files, you would potentially receive a spousal add-on only if 50% of his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount - his FRA benefit) exceeds your own reduced benefit. 5. The formula is: Spousal Benefit = Max(Your reduced benefit, 50% of Husband's PIA - 100% of Your PIA + Your reduction amount) 6. When you reach your FRA, there is no automatic adjustment to your benefit amount. The only change is the removal of the earnings test if you're working. If your husband hasn't filed yet, you might want to understand how his filing age affects your total household benefits. In some cases, it makes sense for the higher earner to delay filing until 70 to maximize survivor benefits later.

I went through this exact situation last year! Calling the SSA was impossible - I kept getting disconnected after waiting for hours. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to a real SSA agent in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent explained that my spousal benefit wouldn't kick in until my husband actually filed, and even then I only got a small increase because I had taken my benefits early. But at least I got a straight answer! Might be worth trying if you can't get through on the regular line.

congrats on researching this stuff before it happens! wish i had done that lol. i just assumed i'd get half my husbands benefit and was shocked when it was way less because i filed early. nobody warned me!

To answer your follow-up question - yes, if your husband delays filing until age 70, you will not receive any spousal benefits until he actually files. This is sometimes called a "spousal delay" situation. However, this might still be the best strategy for your household if: 1. Your husband's benefit will be significantly higher than yours 2. You're anticipating a normal to long life expectancy 3. You want to maximize potential survivor benefits When your husband delays until 70, his benefit increases by 8% per year beyond FRA (up to age 70). If he passes away before you, you would be eligible for 100% of what he was receiving as a survivor benefit, which would replace your smaller benefit. So while you might miss out on some spousal add-on during those delay years, the long-term household benefit (especially survivor benefits) could be much larger.

they usually add it automatic when your husband files but sometimes they mess up. make sure u call them right after he files to check.