Will my SS benefits automatically increase after husband started receiving his Social Security?

The good news is that you don't need to submit a new application. SSA should automatically calculate and adjust your benefit if you're eligible for the higher spousal amount. Since you mentioned receiving a letter, they're already aware of the potential increase. However, the adjustment isn't always immediate - it can take 1-3 months for them to process everything and for the increased amount to show up in your payments. The letter should indicate if any action is required from you (usually not). You should eventually receive another notice telling you exactly what your new benefit amount will be. The increase will be retroactive to your husband's entitlement date.

Thank you so much for that clear explanation! That gives me some relief. The letter wasn't super clear about next steps, so I was worried I'd miss something important. Any idea how much of an increase I might see? I currently get about $1,450/month while my husband's benefit is around $2,800.

my sister went thru this last year. they will adjust it automatically but took like 2 months for her to see the change. dont worry about it, they know what theyre doing for once lol

Your sister got lucky! My mother waited 5 months for her spousal increase and had to make THREE trips to the local office before they fixed it. The SSA is drowning in backlog and consistently understaffed. I wouldn't just sit back and wait - call or visit in person to confirm they're processing it!

Since you're already receiving benefits on your own record, SSA will only increase your benefit if 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is greater than your own benefit amount. Given your age, there would also be a reduction factor since you started benefits before your Full Retirement Age (FRA). The comparison is a bit complex: They take 50% of your husband's PIA (not his received amount) and compare it to your own PIA. If the spousal benefit is higher, you'll receive your own benefit plus the difference to equal the higher amount (after reductions). This is definitely something that should happen automatically, but in my experience working with clients, it's worth following up if you don't see a change within 60 days. The letter you received is their standard notification when a spouse files, but doesn't guarantee you'll receive more.

Thanks for explaining the details! I didn't realize they use the PIA rather than actual benefit amounts for the calculation. I'll watch my account and follow up if I don't see changes in the next couple months. I appreciate everyone's help!

SSA IS THE WORST with these kinds of adjustments!!! I went through the EXACT same thing last year and had to fight for 4 MONTHS to get my spousal increase! They kept saying it was

same here... waited 3 months and nothing happened. finally went to the office and they said 'oh we forgot to process it' smh

I found a solution to the endless busy signals when calling SSA! Try this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it actually got me through to a representative in under 20 minutes after I had been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I was skeptical at first, but it saved me from having to drive to the office and wait all day. The rep I spoke with was able to confirm my spousal benefit increase was being processed and gave me an estimate of when it would start.

isnt there some kind of rule about when you can take spousal benefits? like you have to be at least 62 or something? sorry if thats not helpful just trying to remember what my neighbor said about this

Yes, you need to be at least 62 to claim spousal benefits, but the original poster mentioned she's 63 and already collecting her own benefits, so she meets the age requirement. The only question is whether she'll get more money based on her husband's record, which depends on their respective benefit amounts.

The letter you received is a good sign, but I recommend checking your My Social Security account online every few days. You should see a message there once they process any adjustment. Also, keep an eye on your bank account around your usual payment date. One thing to note: because you took benefits early at 63, any spousal boost will be permanently reduced. The reduction is approximately 25/36 of 1% for each month before your FRA up to 36 months, and 5/12 of 1% for each additional month. Based on the numbers you shared in another comment ($1,450 for you and $2,800 for your husband), you might see some increase, but it won't be dramatic. The maximum you could get is about 35% of his PIA because of the early claiming reduction.

Thank you for that detailed explanation! I'll keep checking my online account. I figured there would be a reduction since I claimed early, but even a small increase would be helpful.

when my wife got her increase it showed up on the my social security website before she actually got the money. check there maybe?

UPDATE: I just realized I should clarify something important. The automatic adjustment only applies if you listed your spouse on your original application or if SSA has your marriage information in their records. If you didn't mention your husband when you initially filed (or if you got married after you started collecting), then you would need to contact them to provide that information. This could explain why some people in the comments had to follow up repeatedly while others saw automatic adjustments. SSA can only automatically process what they know about.

That's helpful - I did include my husband's information on my original application since we've been married for 40 years. I'll still keep an eye on things though. The letter arriving so quickly after his first payment (literally within a week) makes me think their systems are at least connecting our records correctly.

Good news! The exact same thing happened to me last year. It took about 6-7 weeks, but they did eventually adjust my benefits automatically. I actually received a second letter before the adjustment that showed the calculation and new amount. Just be patient and keep an eye on your bank account - you'll likely see a larger amount on your regular payment date once they process it. The increase was retroactive to when my husband started receiving his benefits too, so I got a small back payment with my first increased check.

Thanks for sharing your experience! This is exactly what I was hoping to hear. I'll watch for a second letter with the details. It's such a relief to know I don't have to keep banging my head against the wall trying to get through on the phone.