Social Security spousal benefits confusion - started at 62 but spouse just filed now

The SSA rep gave you incorrect information. The fact that you started your own benefits at 62 doesn't disqualify you from spousal benefits. What matters is whether your own benefit is higher or lower than what you'd get as a spouse. If your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) would give you a higher spousal benefit than your own current reduced benefit, you can get a combination of benefits up to the higher amount. You should definitely call SSA back and speak with a different representative. Ask specifically about "deemed filing" and explain that you want to know if you're eligible for the difference between your reduced retirement benefit and the spousal benefit you're entitled to.

my mom had the EXACT same situation and they told her NO at first to!! she ended up having to go TO THE OFFICE with all her paperwork. they gave her the extra spousal amount but only after she kept pushing back. dont give up!!

The rule is that if you were born before January 2, 1954, and have already reached your full retirement age, you can choose to receive only the spouse's benefit while delaying your retirement benefit. However, since you already started receiving your own retirement benefits at 62, you're subject to "deemed filing" rules. This means that when you filed for your reduced retirement benefit, you were also "deemed" to have filed for any spousal benefits you might be eligible for. But since your husband wasn't receiving benefits yet, there were no spousal benefits available at that time. Now that your husband has filed, SSA should automatically check if you're due additional spousal benefits. If your spousal benefit would be higher than your own benefit, you'll receive a combination of benefits equal to the higher spousal amount. The spousal benefit is up to 50% of your husband's PIA, but this will be reduced because you took your own benefits early. Call SSA again and specifically ask about the "excess spousal amount" you might be entitled to now that your husband has filed.

Been through this exact thing and wasted WEEKS trying to reach someone at SS. After getting disconnected 9 times and waiting on hold for hours, I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me so much frustration! They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU if you want to see how it works. When I finally got through, I had to specifically ask about the "excess spousal benefit" amount I might be eligible for. The first rep didn't know what I was talking about but the supervisor confirmed I was eligible for an additional $420/month on top of my own benefit.

I HATE how they give wrong info all the time!!! I was told THREE different things by THREE different people at SSA about my widows benefits. Its like they dont even know there own rules!!!!! You ABSOLUTELY can get spousal benefits even if you filed early. My friend got retroactive payments too when they finally fixed her account after telling her wrong info for YEARS!!!

Just to clarify the math a bit more since there seems to be some confusion: 1. Because you filed at 62, your own retirement benefit was reduced to about 75% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). 2. The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of your husband's PIA. 3. Since you filed for your own benefits first and early, any spousal benefits will also be reduced. 4. You don't get your own benefit PLUS the full spousal benefit. Instead, you get the higher of the two amounts. 5. More specifically, if the spousal benefit you're eligible for is higher than your own benefit, you'll receive your own benefit plus the difference between the two (sometimes called the "excess spousal benefit"). You should definitely follow up with SSA. This adjustment should happen automatically when your husband filed, but mistakes happen frequently.

when i went thru this i had to ask for a REVIEW of my file not just talk to the phone people cuz they kept getting it wrong

My situation was kinda similar but I was the younger spouse. The key thing is that your benefit at 62 is permanently reduced, but that doesn't prevent you from getting the difference if the spousal benefit would be higher. But if your own benefit is already higher than 50% of his, then there's no extra money to be had. The 35-year marriage definitely qualifies you though - the 10 year rule is only for divorced spouses.