Should I take SS at 62 with low benefits or wait for higher spousal benefits from husband who took early retirement?

The 50% spousal benefit applies when you wait until your Full Retirement Age (FRA), which would be 67 for you. But since you're looking to claim at 62, you'd get approximately 32.5% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - that's what he would have received at his FRA before any reductions for his early claiming. So if your husband's PIA was about $2,200 (estimating based on his current reduced benefit), your spousal benefit at 62 would be roughly $715 per month. Since that's higher than your own $375 benefit, you'd receive your own benefit plus the difference to bring you up to the spousal amount. And yes, you can claim on his record even though he took his benefits early. His early filing doesn't reduce your spousal benefits - those are based on his PIA, not his actual benefit amount.

DONT LISTEN TO THAT OTHER PERSON!!! They are WRONG about the 32.5%!!! When you take spousal benefits early the reduction is MORE than with regular benefits - it's closer to 30% at age 62!!! My sister did this last year and got WAY less than she expected because nobody told her about the bigger reduction!!! And there's ANOTHER THING no one tells you - if you take ANY benefits early, you're STUCK with the reduction FOREVER even after your husband dies and you switch to survivor benefits! The SSA doesnt explain this clearly AT ALL and then people are SHOCKED when they get tiny checks!

my mom just went thru this same thing last yr. she was gonna take her own benefit but when she applied they just automatically gave her the spousal one since it was higher. u dont have to do anything special they look at both and give u the better one.

I want to clarify something important: when you apply for Social Security at 62, you're technically applying for ALL benefits you're eligible for. The SSA will automatically give you the highest amount you qualify for. In your case, you'll receive your own retirement benefit PLUS a spousal add-on that brings the total up to your reduced spousal benefit amount. This is called the "deemed filing" rule. Based on your numbers, if your own benefit at 62 is $375 and your spousal benefit would be around $700 (approximately 32.5-35% of your husband's PIA), you'd receive about $700 total - not both amounts combined. One other consideration: taking benefits at 62 means you'll have a permanent reduction. If you can wait even a year or two, your monthly amount would increase noticeably. But I understand that's not always practical when health and family care issues are involved.

I experienced the exact same situation last year - I was 62 and my husband had already been collecting for years due to health problems. I couldn't even get through to ask questions at my local office or on the phone - constant busy signals and disconnections. I wasted weeks trying. Finally I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real person at SSA. They connected me within about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for weeks on my own. The agent explained my entire spousal benefit situation and even helped me start my application while on the phone. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It made a huge difference having someone explain my specific situation rather than trying to figure it out from conflicting online articles. The SSA rep confirmed I'd get about $680/month by taking benefits at 62 instead of the $340 I would have gotten on my own record.

When my wife turned 62 she was in a similar situation. Her own benefit would have been around $400 but she got almost $800 as a spousal benefit even though I took my own benefit early. It worked out fine for us.

Has anyone mentioned the earnings test yet? If you're going to keep working at all until you reach your full retirement age, Social Security will deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above the annual limit (which is $21,240 for 2025). This applies whether you're taking your own benefit or spousal benefits. I learned this the hard way - thought I could work part-time AND collect early Social Security, but ended up having most of my benefits withheld because I earned too much.

Since it seems you've decided to apply at 62, let me share a couple practical tips: 1. Apply online 3 months before you want benefits to start - so September if you turn 62 in December and want benefits to start right away. 2. Have your marriage certificate ready - they'll need this to process spousal benefits. 3. Benefits are paid the month after they're due, so your first payment would arrive in January for December benefits. 4. If you apply online, print or save every page before submitting. The SSA system sometimes glitches and you'll want proof of what you entered. 5. If you do need to speak with someone to confirm your specific benefit amounts, try calling right when they open (8am local time) or try the Claimyr service the other commenter mentioned - the wait times with SSA can be extremely frustrating otherwise.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might help - when you do apply, make sure to ask about Medicare enrollment too since you'll be turning 65 in a few years. If you're not getting employer insurance through your retail job anyway, you might want to understand the timeline for Medicare Part B enrollment to avoid any late penalties later. Also, I noticed you mentioned taking care of your mom with dementia - you might want to look into whether you qualify for any caregiver support programs in your area. Some states have respite care or other assistance that could help with the financial and physical burden. The Area Agency on Aging in your county would be a good place to start. Your situation sounds really challenging but it's clear you're making the responsible choice given your circumstances. Don't feel bad about taking benefits early when you genuinely need them - that's exactly what the program is there for.

I just want to say how much I admire your strength in handling so much - caring for your mom with dementia, helping with grandkids, AND trying to navigate Social Security while dealing with your own health issues. That's incredibly tough. From what I've read in this thread, it sounds like you'll definitely benefit from the spousal benefit over your own ($700-ish vs $375). One small suggestion: when you do apply in September, consider asking the SSA representative to walk through the exact calculation with your husband's specific numbers so you know precisely what to expect. Sometimes the estimates can vary slightly from the actual amounts. Also, since you mentioned your knees giving out from retail work - once you start receiving benefits and stop working, you might want to look into whether you'd qualify for any additional assistance programs. Some states have supplemental programs for people with limited income even if they don't qualify for SSI. You're making smart decisions given your circumstances. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about claiming early when you genuinely need the income for basic living expenses and caregiving responsibilities.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add something that might be helpful for your planning. Since you mentioned you'll be quitting work entirely due to caregiving responsibilities, you should know that your spousal benefit amount won't change even if you have zero earnings going forward. Unlike your own retirement benefit which is based on your work history, spousal benefits are tied to your husband's record. Also, I noticed several people mentioned different percentages for the reduction (30% vs 32.5%). The exact reduction depends on how many months before your full retirement age you claim. At exactly 62, if your FRA is 67, you'd get about 32.5% of your husband's PIA for spousal benefits. But this can vary slightly based on your exact birth month. One last thing - since you're dealing with so much right now, you might want to set up automatic deposit when you apply. It's one less thing to worry about, and your benefits will be deposited reliably on the same day each month (typically the second, third, or fourth Wednesday depending on your birth date). You're handling an incredibly difficult situation with grace, and it sounds like you've gotten great advice here about moving forward with your application in September.

I wanted to chime in as someone who works with seniors navigating Social Security regularly. Based on what you've shared, taking benefits at 62 makes complete sense given your caregiving responsibilities and health concerns. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure to keep records of all your caregiving expenses for your mom. While they won't affect your Social Security benefits directly, they might be helpful for tax purposes or if you ever need to apply for Medicaid planning down the road. Also, when you do apply in September, consider asking about representative payee options if your mom's dementia progresses. It's not something you need right now, but knowing the process ahead of time can be helpful if family circumstances change. You're absolutely making the right choice prioritizing your family's immediate needs. The difference between $375 and around $700 monthly will make a real impact on your ability to care for everyone. Don't let anyone make you second-guess this decision - you've clearly thought it through carefully and gotten solid advice from this community.

I just wanted to add one more practical tip that helped me when I applied for benefits - if you run into any issues with the online application or need to upload documents, you can also mail them to your local SSA office. Sometimes the online document upload feature doesn't work properly, and mailing can be more reliable. Also, since you mentioned having trouble getting through on the phone, another option is to schedule an appointment at your local Social Security office if you need to speak with someone in person. You can do this online at ssa.gov even if the phone lines are busy. Sometimes having that face-to-face conversation can help clarify any remaining questions about your specific situation. Your story really resonates with me - so many of us end up in these sandwich generation situations caring for both elderly parents and helping with grandchildren. You're doing an amazing job juggling everything, and taking your Social Security benefits early so you can focus on your family is absolutely the right decision. The extra income will make such a difference in your ability to provide the care your loved ones need.

I wanted to share my experience as someone who went through almost the exact same situation two years ago. I was 62, my husband had already been collecting SS for health reasons, and I was caring for my elderly father while helping with grandkids. The spousal benefit really was a lifesaver - I went from expecting about $400 on my own record to receiving $750 monthly. The application process was smoother than I expected once I got through to someone at SSA who could walk me through the numbers. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple monthly budget before applying so I knew exactly how that extra income would impact our situation. It made such a difference being able to reduce my work hours and focus more on family care without constantly worrying about money. You're absolutely making the right decision given your circumstances. The "sandwich generation" caregiving role is incredibly demanding, both physically and emotionally. Having that steady income will give you the flexibility to prioritize what really matters - your health and your family's wellbeing. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about claiming early when you genuinely need the support. That's exactly what Social Security is designed for.