Confused about spousal excess benefits calculation - FRA amount or age 70 amount for higher earner?

The spousal benefit calculation is ALWAYS based on the higher earner's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is their benefit amount at full retirement age. The delayed retirement credits that your husband earns by waiting until 70 do NOT increase your spousal benefit. So in your case, you'd be looking at the calculation based on his FRA amount ($3,675), not his age 70 amount. Since you're entitled to your own retirement benefit, you'd only receive the difference between your own benefit and the spousal benefit (if the spousal is higher). This is called the "excess spousal benefit." In your example: 50% of $3,675 = $1,837.50 Your own benefit = $1,450 Excess spousal = $1,837.50 - $1,450 = $387.50 So you'd receive your own $1,450 plus an additional $387.50 for a total of $1,837.50.

my wife got spousal benefits last year and yeah its definitely based on FRA amount not the increased amount at 70. kinda stinks but thats how they do it

Are you SURE about this?? Because when I went in to my local SS office last month they told me it WAS based on the actual amount being received!!! Now I'm even more confused than before. Why can't they get their story straight??!! This is so infuriating!!!

Just to add some clarity, let me confirm that spousal benefits are calculated based on the higher earner's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the benefit amount payable at Full Retirement Age. This is set in stone in the Social Security regulations. The 8% per year increase for delaying benefits past FRA (called Delayed Retirement Credits) only applies to the worker's own retirement benefit and any survivor benefits after their death - not to spousal benefits while both spouses are alive. For the original poster, your spousal benefit would indeed be calculated based on the $3,675 FRA amount, not the age 70 amount. And since you're eligible for your own benefit, you would receive the higher of either: 1. Your own benefit ($1,450), or 2. The spousal benefit (50% of $3,675 = $1,837.50) So you'd receive $1,837.50 total, which is effectively your own $1,450 plus an additional $387.50 excess spousal benefit.

I had so much trouble getting accurate information when trying to sort out my spousal benefits. Called SSA multiple times and kept getting disconnected or receiving conflicting information. I finally discovered Claimyr.com which got me through to an actual SSA agent in less than 10 minutes. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent I spoke with confirmed exactly what others are saying here - spousal benefits are calculated on the higher earner's FRA amount (PIA), not their age 70 amount. Getting through to someone who really knows the rules made all the difference.

Just to add another dimension to this discussion - don't forget that WHEN you claim also affects your benefit amount. If you claim your spousal benefit before your own FRA, it will be reduced. The 50% of your husband's PIA is only if you wait until your own full retirement age to claim.

this whole system is deliberately confusing i swear... my ex and i were divorced after 12 years of marriage and the amount I get is less than what they told me i would get when i called before filing... always get everything in writing!!!

btw are you sure your own benefit is only $1450? might be worth checking your earnings record on the ssa website to make sure they have all your working years correct. my wife found they were missing 3 years of her work and it bumped her benefit up almost $200

To summarize the key points about spousal benefits for anyone else reading this thread: 1. Spousal benefits are based on 50% of the higher earner's PIA (benefit at Full Retirement Age) 2. Delayed retirement credits earned by the higher earner (by waiting past FRA up to age 70) do NOT increase spousal benefits 3. The excess spousal benefit is the difference between your own benefit and the spousal benefit (if the spousal is higher) 4. Claiming before your own FRA will reduce both your own benefit and your spousal benefit 5. Survivor benefits (after a spouse dies) ARE affected by delayed retirement credits This is definitely one of the most confusing aspects of Social Security for many people.