Will my Social Security be reduced at FRA because my husband took benefits early?

Your neighbor is mixing up several different Social Security concepts. There is NO penalty or reduction to your own retirement benefit just because your husband took his benefits early. You'll receive 100% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) at your FRA. What she might be confusing this with: 1. The Family Maximum (which limits total benefits paid on one worker's record) 2. The fact that spousal benefits can be reduced if taken early 3. Government Pension Offset (GPO) which can reduce spousal benefits if you have a pension But none of these apply to YOUR OWN retirement benefits based on YOUR work record. Your benefit amount is based solely on your own work history and when you claim.

my cousin had the EXACT same thing happen!!!! she got told she would get less but when she actuly filed they gave her the full amount at FRA. don't worry about what random people say, only trust ssa

The SSA rep I spoke with last month actually explained this very thing to me. Each person's retirement benefit is calculated independently based on their own work record. Your husband's decision to file early has absolutely zero impact on your own retirement benefit amount. What DOES get complicated is if you were planning to take a SPOUSAL benefit based on his record instead of your own retirement benefit. But from what you described, your own benefit is probably higher than half of your husband's anyway, so that wouldn't apply to you. I had a terrible time reaching someone at SSA though - took 7 calls over 3 days. I finally used this service called Claimyr that connected me right away (claimyr.com). They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me hours of frustration.

WRONG INFORMATION is everywhere about Social Security!!! I've been dealing with this for years and the misinformation drives me CRAZY. Let me tell you something - NOBODY at H&R Block knows the details of Social Security rules. They know TAX rules. Your own retirement benefit is YOUR OWN. Period. What your husband did has ZERO impact on your retirement benefit amount. The only time this would matter is if you were taking a SPOUSAL benefit based on his record. And even then, YOU taking it at YOUR FRA would give you the maximum spousal benefit possible (50% of his PIA), regardless of when HE took his benefits. Don't listen to neighbors or tax preparers about Social Security. Only trust SSA or financial advisors who specialize in Social Security.

when i filed for my ss last year i was so confused about this too. the family maximum thing is real but it only matters if like 3 or more people are claiming on ONE persons record. like if someone has minor kids or something. since your claiming your own benefit and hubby is claiming his own you both get what youve earned.

To add some technical clarity here: 1. Each worker's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is calculated based solely on their own earnings record 2. The Family Maximum Formula (FMF) only limits the total benefits payable on ONE person's earnings record when multiple beneficiaries are involved 3. When both spouses claim on their own records, each gets their own PIA (reduced or increased based on claiming age) In your case, you'll get 100% of your PIA at your FRA. Your husband gets a permanently reduced benefit (approximately 75% of his PIA) because he claimed at 62. The only other consideration is whether a spousal benefit might be higher for either of you. You'd be eligible for up to 50% of your husband's PIA (not his reduced benefit amount), but only if that exceeds your own benefit. Given that you worked your whole life, your own benefit is likely higher.

i think your neighbor got confused with the spousal benefit thing. thats completely different from your own retirement. my wife gets both - her own small retirement and a spousal topup because half of mine is more than her full benefit. but neither affects the other person's amount.

this reminds me when I filed the ssa office gave me wrong info too said i couldnt get widows benefits till 60 but turns out i could get them at 50 because im disabled! dont even trust the ssa people sometimes they make mistakes

Since we're clarifying misconceptions, let me address the part about being "married way over 20 years" - that duration only matters for divorced spouse benefits (which require a 10-year marriage). For currently married couples, there's no marriage duration requirement for spousal benefits except that you must be currently married. To summarize your situation: 1. You'll get 100% of your own benefit at FRA in March 2025 2. Your husband's early filing has no impact on your benefit amount 3. You'll get either your own benefit OR a spousal benefit (whichever is higher), not both 4. Since you worked your entire life, your own benefit is likely higher than any spousal benefit If you want to verify all this, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and request a benefit verification or speak with a claims specialist.