Filing for Social Security at 64 while on unemployment - timing question and spousal benefit confusion

you dont have to wait for unemployment to be approved before applying for ss. they are totally separate systems. i filed for both last year (age 63) and didnt have any problems. just be aware that if ur going to earn more than $21,240 in 2025 from ANY income (unemployment doesnt count toward this) your ss benefits will be reduced $1 for every $2 over that limit until you hit your FRA.

Thanks for the quick response! That's good to know they're separate systems. So unemployment benefits don't count as earnings for the SS earnings test? That's a relief. And you're right about the earnings limit - I think it's $21,240 for 2025. If I do find work, I'll have to watch that carefully.

Since you're filing before your Full Retirement Age (which would be 66 and 6 or 8 months depending on your birth year), your Social Security benefit will be permanently reduced by approximately 0.5% for each month before your FRA. At 64.5, that's about 24 months early, so you're looking at roughly a 12% permanent reduction.However, given your situation with your husband being the higher earner with multiple pensions, this might be a reasonable strategy. When he claims his Social Security, if your spousal benefit (50% of his FRA amount) would be higher than your own reduced benefit, you'd be automatically switched to the higher amount.Regarding withdrawal of application - yes, you can do this within 12 months, but you must repay ALL benefits received. The process requires Form SSA-521 and can take some time to process.

Thank you for explaining the reduction percentage - that helps put it in perspective. I didn't realize I might be switched to a spousal benefit later when my husband files. Does that mean I should just take my reduced benefit now, and then when he files in a few years, I might get bumped up to the 50% of his amount (if that's higher)? That makes me feel better about filing early.

I JUST WENT THROUGH THIS!! Applied for unemployment in January and SS in February (im 63). The MOST IMPORTANT THING nobody tells you is that your first SS payment comes the MONTH AFTER your start date. So if you want April money, you need to apply in MARCH and you'll get paid in MAY!!!! I learned this the hard way and had to stretch my savings an extra month!!

Oh wow, I had no idea about that delay! So even though my \

You might want to consider if you really NEED to start SS now. Every year you wait between 62-70 increases your benefit by about 8%. If your husband has good income and pensions coming, and you only need temporary support, you could just take unemployment and try to hold off on SS until closer to your FRA. Once you take the reduced amount, you're generally stuck with it for life (except for cost of living adjustments).

This is actually bad advice for many people. The 8% increase sounds great but the BREAK-EVEN point is around 80 years old. If you don't expect to live well into your 80s or need the money now, taking it early often makes mathematical sense. People get hung up on the

Just checking - you mentioned your husband is 62 and the higher earner. If you're thinking you'll eventually get spousal benefits based on his record, be aware that:1. You can't claim spousal benefits until he actually files for his own benefits2. Since you're claiming your own benefits first, you'll only receive the HIGHER of either your own benefit or the spousal benefit (not both)3. If you claim spousal benefits before your FRA, those will be reduced tooGiven your husband plans to work longer and has multiple pensions, he might delay his SS until 70 for maximum benefits. Just make sure that factors into your planning.

Wait, so I can't get spousal benefits until he actually files? I didn't realize that. He's planning to work until at least 66, maybe 70. So even though I'm filing now, when he eventually files, SSA will automatically compare my benefit to what I'd get as a spouse and give me whichever is higher? Is that right?

That's exactly right. You can't receive spousal benefits until he files, and when he does, you'll automatically be given the higher of your own benefit or the spousal benefit (which would be up to 50% of his FRA amount, reduced if you're under FRA when he files). Since he's planning to work until 66-70, you'd be on your own reduced benefit until then.

But remember OP can't just change her mind later! Once you take your own benefit early, your spousal benefit later will ALWAYS be reduced!! The reduction follows you forever, even after switching to spousal. This is one of the most confusing parts of SS rules that trips people up.

My neighbor just went thru this and spent HOURS trying to get somone at social security on the phone. She said she finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got her through to an agent in about 15 minutes. She showed me their video demo - https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - and i saved it in case i ever need it. She said it was worth every penny to not deal with the constant busy signals and disconnects. might help u get answers faster.

Thanks for the suggestion! I've been trying to get through on the SSA phone lines for days with no luck. I'll check out that service - at this point I just need to talk to someone who can answer my specific questions about the timing. Appreciate the tip!

One more important point to consider: If you do find work while receiving both unemployment and Social Security, be very careful about reporting requirements. For unemployment, you must report ANY earnings, which could reduce or eliminate your weekly payment. For Social Security, you only need to report if you'll exceed the annual earnings limit ($21,240 for 2025).Many states now cross-check unemployment claims with payroll tax records, so accuracy is essential to avoid potential overpayment issues with either system.

That's a really good point about the different reporting requirements. I'll be sure to keep careful records if I do find work. I'd hate to end up with an overpayment from either system - those sound like a nightmare to deal with based on what I've read here.

sorry i forgot to mention - when u apply for SS online the website is SUPER confusing!! i got stuck for days trying to figure out what to pick for my start date...kept thinking i was doing something wrong. just push through it and pick the month u want benefits to START even tho u won't get paid till the next month.

OMG YES the ss website is the WORST! i had to start my application over 3 times because it kept timing out or giving errors. and then when i finally submitted it, i got some weird message that made no sense. ended up having to call them anyway. government websites are so frustrating!!

Since it hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand that Social Security benefits might be partially taxable depending on your combined income. If your provisional income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + 1/2 of Social Security benefits) exceeds certain thresholds, up to 85% of your benefits could be subject to federal income tax.With your unemployment benefits, any part-time work, and your husband's income, you might hit these thresholds, so it's worth factoring that into your calculations.

Just want to add a perspective as someone who's been through this recently - I filed for SS at 64 after being laid off, similar to your situation. The key thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet comparing my monthly cash flow under different scenarios (unemployment only vs unemployment + reduced SS vs waiting for FRA). Given that your husband is still working and has multiple pensions coming, you have more flexibility than someone who's completely on their own. The 12% reduction sounds scary, but if you need the income now and your husband will likely have good benefits later, it might be worth the peace of mind. Plus, unemployment benefits are temporary - only 26 weeks in most states. One thing I wish I'd known: even though you can withdraw your SS application within 12 months, it's not as simple as just changing your mind. You have to repay EVERYTHING including any Medicare premiums that were deducted, and the paperwork takes time. So really think through your decision before filing. Good luck with whatever you decide! Being laid off at our age is stressful enough without having to navigate all these government systems.