Social Security spousal benefits - do I get 50% of husband's FRA amount or his reduced age 62 benefit?

You'll be eligible for 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - which is his benefit amount at his full retirement age - regardless of when he claimed. So you should receive around $1,200 as a spousal benefit, not the reduced $925. The fact that he took benefits early only affects HIS payment, not the baseline calculation for your spousal benefit. The key is that YOU are claiming at your FRA, so you get the full spousal benefit without reduction. If your own benefit is higher than the spousal benefit, you'll receive your own instead, as SSA automatically pays the higher amount.

my wife got the reduced amount when she filed for ss based on mine. they said becuz i took early she gets less too. u should double check with ssa direct.

I was JUST dealing with this exact thing!!!! The SSA people kept giving me different answers every time I called. So frustrating! One rep said I'd get 50% of what my husband WOULD have gotten at FRA, but another said I'd only get based on his actual reduced amount. I spent WEEKS trying to get a straight answer. When I finally got my benefits approved two months ago, it WAS based on his full retirement age amount, NOT his reduced benefit. So yes, you'll get 50% of what would have been his FRA benefit. Make SURE you specify you're filing for spousal benefits at YOUR full retirement age when you apply!!!

I've been trying to contact the Social Security office about a similar issue for weeks. Their phone lines are absolutely swamped. One trick that actually worked for me was using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that basically waits on hold with SSA for you and then calls you when an agent is ready. Saved me literally hours of hold time. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Regarding your specific question, I can confirm what others have said - you'll get 50% of his FRA amount since you're claiming at your own FRA. The reduction only applies if YOU claim early, not if your spouse claimed early.

A lot of wrong info in this thread! It TOTALLY depends on your earnings record too. If your own benefit is higher than the spousal benefit you won't get spousal at all! SSA just gives you whichever is highest. Did you create an account on ssa.gov to see your own benefit estimate?

this whole system is designed to be confusing on purpose lol... my brother claimed on his wife's record and got a completely different amount than they said he would. the ssa reps themselves don't even understand their own rules half the time.

Social Security specialist here. To clarify the rules definitively: 1. When you claim a spousal benefit at your full retirement age (67 for you), you are entitled to 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the benefit amount he would receive at his full retirement age. 2. The fact that your husband claimed early at 62 and receives a reduced benefit does NOT affect your spousal benefit calculation. 3. However, if you were to claim spousal benefits before your own FRA, your spousal benefit would be permanently reduced. 4. Also important: you'll only receive the higher of either your own retirement benefit or the spousal benefit, not both. Based on your numbers (your benefit at FRA = $1,050, potential spousal benefit = $1,200), the spousal benefit would be more advantageous. I recommend claiming in the month you reach your FRA to maximize your benefit.

Has anyone dealt with the extra complications if one spouse worked for state government? My friend's husband never paid into Social Security (teacher in Illinois) and it completely changed how her benefits were calculated because of something called WEP or GPO? Just wondering if that applies here too?

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact situation last year. I was also confused about whether my spousal benefit would be based on my husband's reduced amount (he claimed at 63) or his full retirement age amount. After multiple calls and getting different answers, I finally spoke with a supervisor who explained it clearly: since I was claiming at MY full retirement age, I would get 50% of his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), which is what he would have received at his FRA - NOT his reduced benefit. The key thing to remember is that YOUR claiming age determines if your spousal benefit gets reduced, not when your spouse claimed. Since you're waiting until your FRA, you'll get the full 50% of his $2,400 FRA benefit, which should be around $1,200. One tip: when you apply, be very specific that you want to file a "restricted application for spousal benefits only" at your FRA. This ensures you get the correct calculation. Good luck!

As someone who just navigated this maze myself, I can confirm what the experts here are saying - you'll get 50% of your husband's PIA (what he would have gotten at FRA), not his reduced amount. One thing I learned the hard way: make sure to get everything in writing when you apply! I had a rep tell me one thing over the phone, then when my benefits started they were calculated differently. Turns out the phone rep was wrong, but it took months to straighten out. Also, since you mentioned the SSA phone wait times - try calling first thing in the morning right when they open (8am local time). I had much better luck getting through then versus calling later in the day. The hold times are still brutal, but at least you might actually reach someone! Your situation sounds straightforward - at 67 (your FRA) claiming spousal benefits, you should get that $1,200/month. Just be prepared to be very clear and specific about what you're requesting when you apply.

I went through this exact same situation about 18 months ago! The confusion is totally understandable because even the SSA reps seem to get mixed up about this rule sometimes. Here's what I learned after way too many phone calls and finally getting it sorted out: You will receive 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - which is the $2,400 he would have gotten at his FRA, NOT the reduced $1,850 he's actually receiving. So yes, you should get around $1,200/month. The key is that YOUR age when you claim determines any reductions to the spousal benefit, not when your husband claimed his benefits. Since you're claiming at your FRA (67), you get the full spousal benefit without any reduction. A couple of practical tips from my experience: - When you apply, be very clear that you want spousal benefits based on your husband's record - Ask them to confirm they're using his PIA (full retirement age amount) for the calculation - If possible, try to get the calculation details in writing or ask for a written estimate before your benefits start The $150+ difference per month between $925 and $1,200 really adds up over time, so it's definitely worth making sure they get this right! Good luck with your application.