Social Security spousal benefits reduced twice? Confused about 50% spouse rule after early retirement

You're actually getting the correct amount, though I understand the confusion. The 50% spousal benefit only applies if you both wait until your Full Retirement Age (FRA). When you take spousal benefits early at 62, they get reduced by about 30% from that 50% amount. The fact your husband also took his benefits early doesn't reduce your benefit twice - his early filing reduced his payment, and your early filing separately reduced your spousal benefit percentage. At your FRA (probably 67), you would've received 50% of your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) - that's what he would get at his FRA regardless of when he actually filed. So your maximum spousal would be 50% of $2,340 = $1,170, but filing at 62 reduces that by about 30% to roughly $608.

im in the EXACT situation!! hubby filed at 62 and I filed at 63 last year!! I was shocked when my check was WAY less than i thought it wud be. the ssa lady told me its bcuz we both filed b4 full retiremnt age so we both get less... makes me so mad I didnt understand this sooner!!!!

The Social Security spousal benefit calculation is confusing but works like this: 1. Your spousal benefit at Full Retirement Age (FRA) would be 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) - that's what he would get at his FRA regardless of when he filed 2. When you take spousal benefits early, they're reduced by approximately 8.33% per year for the first 3 years before FRA, and 5% per year for years 4 and 5 3. At 62, assuming your FRA is 67, you're taking benefits 5 years early, resulting in roughly a 35% reduction from the full 50% amount So: Full spousal benefit at FRA = 50% of husband's PIA ($2,340) = $1,170 Reduced for early filing at 62 (35% reduction) = approximately $760 If your own retirement benefit based on your work record is $152, they'd pay you your own benefit plus the difference to reach the spousal amount. So $152 + $608 = $760 total. This matches the $608 "spousal only" portion you mentioned, plus your own benefit.

Just to clarify one important point - your husband filing early does NOT lower his PIA. The PIA is fixed based on his earnings record, regardless of when he files. Your husband's PIA is $2,340. That's what he would receive at his FRA. He filed early and gets a reduced benefit of $1,725. Your maximum spousal benefit at your FRA would be 50% of his PIA = $1,170. But you filed at 62, so your spousal benefit is reduced to about $760. If your own retirement benefit is $152, you get that amount plus the difference between that and your reduced spousal benefit: $152 + $608 = $760. So really, there's only ONE reduction to your spousal benefit - for filing early yourself. Your husband's early filing doesn't affect your spousal benefit calculation at all.

this entire system is designed to CHEAT us!! my sister lost over $800/month because she didnt understand these complicated rules. why do they make it so hard on purpose?? just give people what they deserve after working for 40+ years!!

Had the exact same problem getting clear answers from SSA about my spousal benefits. I spent THREE WEEKS trying to reach someone who could explain the calculation. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an SSA agent in under 20 minutes! The agent walked through my entire spousal benefit calculation and confirmed I was getting the right amount. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me so much stress knowing for sure my benefit was calculated correctly.

my neighbor told me her sister knew someone who got 75% of her husbands benefit so maybe u should ask for that instead?? the government always tries to pay less than they should!

Update: I finally got through to SSA after using that Claimyr service someone mentioned. The agent confirmed what you all explained - my benefit IS calculated correctly. She walked me through it step by step. My husband's PIA (full retirement age amount) is $2,340, and my 50% would be $1,170, but since I'm taking it 5 years early, it's reduced by about 35% to $760. Since I have my own small benefit of $152, they pay me that plus the $608 difference. I understand now that my husband filing early doesn't actually reduce my spousal benefit at all - it's based on his full PIA regardless of when he filed. The only reduction is from ME filing early. Thank you all for your help explaining this complicated system!

i wish they would just make this simpler!!! why do we need to be math experts to get our benefits????