Social Security vs Medicare timing - what printouts to request at 62 to compare spousal benefit options?

You don't need to wait until Medicare enrollment to get benefit estimates. You're looking for a "PEBES" (Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement) which shows your earnings history and benefit estimates at different ages. But honestly, the estimates on SSA.gov under "my Social Security" account are just as accurate and you can see all the different age scenarios there without an appointment. Since you're the lower earner with a spouse delaying to 70, definitely look at both your own retirement benefit AND your potential spousal benefit (which would be up to 50% of his FRA amount).

Get the PEBES statement for sure but they dont always tell u the spouse benefit right on it u have to ASK specificly. Thats what happened to me when i went in. Make sure u say u want BOTH ur own benefit calculation AND the spousal benefit calculation at different ages!!!!

The document you want is a "Benefit Computation Summary" which includes detailed calculation information. However, what you're really looking for is a comparative analysis of claiming strategies, which isn't a standard printout. Here's what I recommend: 1. Create your my Social Security account if you haven't already 2. Schedule an appointment specifically for "Retirement Benefit Planning" 3. When making the appointment, specify you need calculations for: - Your own retirement benefit at 62, 63, FRA, and 70 - Your potential spousal benefit at different ages - The impact of your husband delaying until 70 You can absolutely do this well before Medicare enrollment. In fact, the earlier you plan, the better. Request benefit estimates based on your current earnings record with projections for future work years. Keep in mind that spousal benefits are reduced if you claim before your FRA, and you cannot receive more than 50% of your husband's FRA benefit (not his age 70 amount).

I tried getting these calculations last year and had to wait on hold for 3+ hours just to schedule an appointment, then they canceled it anyway! The whole system is broken. When I finally got in, they rushed me through and didn't even print what I asked for. Total waste of time.

They can print you a PEBES statement anytime, you don't need to wait for Medicare. But make sure to mention you're married and want spousal benefit info too because sometimes they just print the regular statement which doesn't include that. My husband and I had a 6-year age gap too and the math got complicated!!

dont overthink this stuff. just take it at 62, thats what i did. all that waiting just means lost money you could have had in your pocket. your probably not gonna live to 90 anyway so take it early lol

After reviewing your situation more carefully, I think you should specifically request an appointment for a "Retirement Insurance Benefit Estimate With Different Retirement Alternatives" (sometimes called an RIB-LIM). This will show your benefit amount at various ages. For the spousal benefit calculation, ask for a "Supplemental Spousal Benefit Analysis" which would show what you'd receive as a spouse based on your husband's record at different claiming ages. Also, since you're considering filing at 62 while your husband delays until 70, be aware that filing early will permanently reduce both your retirement benefit AND any spousal benefit you might receive later. In many cases, lower-earning spouses might benefit from waiting until at least their FRA if financially possible.

Btw make sure u bring ur marriage certificate and husbands SSN when u go in!! They'll need it to do the spousal calculations!!!

One additional document to consider is the "ANYPIA" calculation (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings calculation). This shows the detailed formula used to determine your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). What complicates your situation is coordinating between your own benefit and the potential spousal benefit. Here's what many people don't realize: if you take your own benefit early at 62, and later become eligible for a spousal benefit when your husband files at 70, your spousal benefit will be reduced because you took your own benefit early. This is why getting these calculations done professionally is so important in your specific situation. The difference could potentially be tens of thousands of dollars over your lifetime.

When I was planning my retirement, I found it helpful to make a list of specific questions before my SSA appointment. Make sure to ask: 1. What's my retirement benefit at 62, 63, FRA, and 70? 2. What would my spousal benefit be at each of those ages? 3. How does my husband delaying until 70 affect my spousal benefit? 4. What happens to my benefit if I switch from my own to spousal later? 5. How does continued work affect these calculations? Bring a notepad and write down everything they tell you. I found the representatives helpful but they sometimes skip details if you don't specifically ask.