Social Security spousal benefits - claim mine at 65 or wait until 67 when eligible for husband's record?

If you claim your own benefits at 65, you'll receive a reduced amount (about 13.3% reduction from your full retirement age benefit). When your husband files at his FRA and you become eligible for spousal benefits, the SSA will pay you the higher of either:1. Your own reduced retirement benefit, or2. The difference between your reduced benefit and up to 50% of your husband's full benefitRemember that once you take reduced benefits, they remain reduced for life. The calculation gets complicated, but generally, if the spousal benefit would be significantly higher than your own, waiting until your FRA might be advantageous.

Thank you! So if I understand correctly, if I file early at 65, my own benefit is permanently reduced, AND any spousal benefit I might get later would also be affected by that early filing? That's definitely something to consider.

my sister did this last year and regrets taking hers early!!!! she got like $1450 at 64 but couldve gotten over $1700 if she waited till her full age. now shes stuck with the lower amount forever even tho her husband makes way more. think hard before u decide

This isn't entirely accurate. The reduction for taking your own benefit early doesn't necessarily mean your combined benefit with spousal will be severely impacted. It depends on the difference between your PIA and your husband's. You should run the actual numbers rather than going by someone else's situation.

The decision requires calculating several scenarios. At 65, you'll receive approximately 86.7% of your full retirement benefit. When your husband files, the spousal benefit calculation becomes more complex. The spousal benefit is reduced if you claim it before your FRA, but if you're already receiving your own retirement benefit, you'll get the higher of either your own benefit or a combination that equals the spousal amount.Suggestion: Create a my Social Security account online and check your projected benefit amounts. Then calculate:1. Your reduced benefit at 65 + potential later spousal add-on2. Your full benefit at 67 + potential spousal add-onThe difference in lifetime benefits depends on your life expectancy and whether you need the income now.

I do have a my Social Security account but wasn't sure how to factor in the spousal benefits. Is there somewhere on the website that can help me calculate different scenarios? Or do I need to talk to someone at SSA directly?

just my two cents but i waited till full retirement age (66 for me) and got both mine and spousal at same time cause my husband already filed. worked out good for us. no early filing reductions to worry about. one thing nobody tells u is the medicare costs that come out of ur check too so factor that in!!!

Medicare is EXTREMELY important to factor in! If you're high income, you could pay IRMAA surcharges too. The whole system is designed to make you lose sleep figuring it out. They WANT you to make mistakes so they pay out less! I've spent HOURS with their reps and still get different answers each time.

Have you considered the tax implications? Sometimes taking benefits early while you're still working can push you into a higher tax bracket, making up to 85% of your benefits taxable. If you don't need the money immediately, waiting until your FRA has advantages:- Full unreduced benefits (both your own and spousal)- Potentially lower tax burden if you've stopped working- Maximized survivor benefits for whichever spouse lives longerEven waiting those two years can make a significant difference over a 20+ year retirement.

That's a good point about taxes. I'm actually planning to work part-time until 67 anyway, so maybe waiting makes more sense. I hadn't thought about how this affects survivor benefits down the road.

I had this EXACT situation last year! I was pulling my hair out trying to get through to Social Security to discuss my options. After weeks of busy signals and disconnections, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an SSA agent in under 30 minutes. They have a video demo that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puUThe SSA agent ran the numbers for me based on my specific situation and confirmed that waiting until my FRA made the most financial sense in my case. Getting personalized advice directly from SSA made all the difference in my decision.

never heard of this before. does it actually work? i spent 4 hours on hold last month and finally gave up

Yes, it worked great for me. Got through to an actual SSA person who could see my record and give specific advice for my situation. Much better than guessing or relying on general advice that might not apply to your specific earnings history.

Something else to consider: If your husband hasn't filed yet, have you discussed his claiming strategy? Sometimes it makes financial sense for the higher-earning spouse to delay until 70 to maximize their benefit (which increases 8% per year after FRA until 70). This not only maximizes their retirement benefit but also the potential survivor benefit if they predecease you.The best strategy often involves looking at your benefits as a couple rather than individually.

We've talked about him possibly waiting until 70. His health is good so far, and the 8% annual increase is tempting. Does that affect when I should apply for spousal benefits though?

If he delays until 70, you can't receive spousal benefits until he files. However, you could take your own reduced benefit at 65, then when he files at 70, you'd get the spousal add-on if applicable. But remember - your own benefit would be permanently reduced, affecting the total amount. This is definitely a case where running the numbers for your specific situation is crucial.

has anyone used those free benefit calculater tools online? are they trustworthy or just trying to sell u something later?

Many online calculators provide reasonable estimates but lack the nuance of your complete earnings history. Some financial advisors offer more comprehensive analysis. Be wary of