Spousal Social Security benefits - what questions to ask at my appointment?

Hi there! I went through this last year. Here are the key questions you should definitely ask: 1. What's the difference between filing on your own record versus filing as a spouse at age 62? 2. Ask for a benefit comparison - what would your benefit amount be on your own record versus as a spouse? 3. If you take spousal benefits early at 62, how much is the reduction? 4. Ask if you can file a restricted application to take only spousal benefits and let your own benefits grow (note: this strategy is only available to people born before January 2, 1954, so you'll need to check if you qualify) 5. Ask how working would affect your benefits if you're still employed One important thing to understand - if you take ANY benefits before your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you'll be deemed to be filing for ALL benefits you're eligible for. So the strategy of taking spousal now and switching later generally isn't available unless you wait until your FRA to file.

make sure u ask if they take into account yor husbands delayed retirement credits when calculating ur spousal benfit. my wife thought shed get half of my total but its only half of my primary insurance amount not counting the extra i got for waiting til 70.

You should also bring copies of your marriage certificate, birth certificate, and Social Security card! They might ask for them and it's a huge pain if you have to reschedule because you didn't bring the right documents. Also be prepared to wait FOREVER even with an appointment. My appointment was at 10am and I didn't get called until almost noon, then had to wait again between talking to different people. Bring a book or something to keep you busy.

I'd recommend asking very specific questions about the earnings test if you're still working. In 2025, if you're under Full Retirement Age and collecting ANY Social Security benefits, they'll deduct $1 for every $2 you earn above $22,320 (approximate 2025 limit). Another critical question: Ask them to calculate your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) based on your earnings history. Then find out what percentage of your husband's PIA you'd receive as a spouse. At FRA, the spousal benefit is 50% of your husband's PIA, but at 62 it's only about 32.5%. Also, keep in mind that once you start receiving reduced benefits (whether on your own record or as a spouse), that reduction is permanent. So definitely ask about the long-term financial impact of claiming at 62 versus waiting until your FRA of 67. Finally, ask if they can provide benefit estimates for different claiming ages so you can compare all your options.

I just went through this whole process and trying to talk to someone at Social Security was SO FRUSTRATING. I called for weeks and couldn't get through, then my appointment got rescheduled twice. If you're having trouble reaching someone before your appointment to confirm details, try using Claimyr.com - it helped me finally get through to a real person at SSA after weeks of failed attempts. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU As for questions, definitely ask about survivor benefits too - what you'd receive if your husband passes away. It's not pleasant to think about but important for planning.

BE CAREFUL!!!! SSA employees make mistakes ALL THE TIME!!!! I was told THREE different things by THREE different people about my spousal benefits. One told me I could get half my husband's benefit (WRONG), another told me I could switch from spousal to my own later (ALSO WRONG), and the third finally got it right. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH before you go and don't just take their word for it!!!! The SSA website has some good calculators but they're confusing as heck. If you can afford it, consider talking to a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security claiming strategies BEFORE your appointment.

One thing nobody mentioned - if you were a stay-at-home parent for some years, there can be gaps in your earnings record. Ask them to print out your complete earnings history and check it for accuracy. Sometimes employers report wages incorrectly or under slightly different names (like if you've changed your name after marriage) and fixing those errors can increase your own benefit amount.

One more important thing to consider - taxation of benefits. If you and your husband have other income (investments, pensions, etc.), up to 85% of your Social Security benefits could be taxable. Ask how taking benefits at different ages might affect your overall tax situation. Also, since you mentioned potentially going back to work or working more hours, ask how that would impact not just the earnings test but also the taxation of your benefits. Sometimes earning a bit more can push your combined income into a range where more of your Social Security becomes taxable. Finally, bring a notepad and pen to write everything down. The information can be overwhelming, and it's easy to forget important details. Some offices won't let you record the conversation, so taking good notes is essential.

Just wanted to add a couple more things that helped me when I had my appointment last year: 1. Ask them to explain the "file and suspend" rules - this strategy was mostly eliminated in 2016, but understanding why can help you better grasp your current options. 2. If you have any government pension from work where you didn't pay Social Security taxes (like some teaching or state jobs), ask about the Government Pension Offset (GPO) - it can reduce spousal benefits. 3. Request a written summary of your options before you leave. Don't feel pressured to make a decision on the spot - you can always come back or call later. 4. Ask about Medicare enrollment too since you're turning 62. Even if you don't take Social Security benefits right away, you'll need to think about Medicare when you turn 65. The appointment can feel overwhelming with so much information, but having all these questions prepared will really help you make the best decision for your situation. Good luck!

One thing I learned the hard way - make sure to ask about what happens if your husband predeceases you. The survivor benefit rules are different from spousal benefits, and it could significantly impact your planning. As a widow, you could potentially receive 100% of your husband's benefit amount (including any delayed retirement credits he earned), but only if you wait until your Full Retirement Age. If you claim survivor benefits early, they're reduced. Also, if you do end up taking reduced spousal benefits at 62, that reduction doesn't carry over to survivor benefits - those are calculated separately. This might influence whether it makes sense to take reduced benefits now or wait. The SSA worker should be able to run scenarios for you showing spousal benefits versus survivor benefits at different claiming ages. And definitely ask for everything in writing before you leave! I made the mistake of trying to remember everything they told me and got confused later about what my actual options were.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation and learning so much from everyone's experiences. One additional question you might want to ask is about the break-even analysis - at what age would waiting to claim benefits versus taking reduced benefits at 62 result in the same total lifetime benefit amount? This can help you understand the financial trade-offs if you're trying to decide between taking benefits early or waiting. Also, ask if they can explain how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) work with reduced benefits. If you take a reduced benefit at 62, the annual COLA increases are applied to that reduced amount, so you're getting cost-of-living adjustments on a smaller base for the rest of your life. And here's something I wish I had known earlier - if you're still working part-time, ask about whether it makes sense to try to get a few more higher-earning years into your Social Security calculation. Your benefit is based on your highest 35 years of earnings, so if you have some very low or zero earning years in there, working a bit more now could potentially increase your own retirement benefit calculation. Bring a list of all your questions written down so you don't forget anything in the moment - these appointments can be information overload!