Will taking SS spousal benefits at 67 reduce my own retirement benefits at 70?
I'm trying to figure out the best strategy for my Social Security benefits and could use some advice. I'm currently 67 and a half, and I'm planning to continue working until I'm 70. Based on my earnings history, I should qualify for maximum SS benefits (around $4,300/month) when I claim at 70. Meanwhile, my wife started collecting her own Social Security at 62 (she's now 64). Her monthly benefit is about $2,200. I've been told I might be eligible for spousal benefits (approximately $1,100/month) while I continue working. My question is: If I apply for spousal benefits now based on my wife's record, will it somehow reduce what I'll get when I switch to my own retirement benefits at 70? I've heard conflicting information about this. Some people say I can collect spousal now and then switch to my own higher benefit later with no penalty, but others say this could affect my maximum benefit. Anyone know how this actually works?
17 comments
Join the conversation
Fatima Al-Mazrouei
Good news! You can absolutely collect spousal benefits now and it will NOT reduce your own retirement benefits when you claim at 70. This is because you were born before January 2, 1954, which means you're still eligible for what's called a "restricted application for spousal benefits only." The law changed for people born after that date, but you're grandfathered in under the old rules. By filing a restricted application for spousal benefits only at your full retirement age (which you've passed), you can collect 50% of your wife's primary insurance amount while your own retirement benefit continues to grow with delayed retirement credits until 70. This is actually a smart claiming strategy that many people miss out on. Your own benefit at 70 will still reach the maximum amount as if you never took spousal benefits at all.
0 coins
Giovanni Gallo
•Thank you! That's a huge relief. So to be clear, I just need to specify that I'm filing a "restricted application for spousal benefits only" when I apply? Is there a specific form or way to do this to make sure they don't accidentally have me apply for my own benefits too?
0 coins
Dylan Wright
WRONG information above!!! The rules completely changed with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. You CAN'T do restricted applications anymore!!! If you file for ANY benefit now, you are filing for ALL benefits you're eligible for. This is called "deemed filing" and they WILL automatically give you whichever is higher - your own or spousal. If your own benefit is higher already (which it probably is if you're a high earner), you'll just get your current benefit rate and LOSE all those delayed credits you were counting on!!! DON'T FILE ANYTHING until you're 70 if you want maximum benefits!
0 coins
Fatima Al-Mazrouei
•You're incorrect about this specific situation. The deemed filing rule DOES apply to people born on or after January 2, 1954, but the original poster was born BEFORE that date (they're 67.5 now, which means they were born before 1954). The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 did change the rules, but specifically grandfathered in people born before January 2, 1954. They can still file restricted applications for spousal benefits only after reaching full retirement age while allowing their own benefits to grow until 70. I do appreciate your caution though - this is a complex area and the rules are different depending on birth date.
0 coins
NebulaKnight
wait i'm confused... can someone explain this in normal words? my husband and i are trying to figure out something similar but i don't understand all this technical stuff about restricted applications and deemed filing and whatever. all i know is i don't want to mess up our benefits!
0 coins
Fatima Al-Mazrouei
•Sure! Here's the simple version: 1. If you were born before January 2, 1954 (so you're about 69+ now), you can collect JUST your spouse's benefits while letting your own benefits grow until age 70. 2. If you were born January 2, 1954 or later, you can't do this anymore. When you apply for any Social Security benefit, you're automatically applying for ALL benefits you're eligible for, and you'll get whichever is higher. So it all comes down to your birth year. The original poster can collect spousal benefits now without hurting their own future benefits because of when they were born. But if you were born in 1954 or later, different rules apply to you.
0 coins
Sofia Ramirez
I went through almost the exact same situation last year! Wife claimed early, I was going to wait til 70. The trick is definitely filing that restricted application - make sure you actually say those words when you talk to SSA. Regular employees sometimes don't know about this rule. I ended up collecting about $1300/month in spousal for 3 years while my own benefit kept growing to max. Best of both worlds!
0 coins
Giovanni Gallo
•That's great to hear a success story! Did you file online or go into an office? I'm trying to decide the best way to do this.
0 coins
Sofia Ramirez
I tried filing online first but got confused by the application. Then tried calling but gave up after being on hold for 2+ hours. Finally I discovered this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real SSA agent in about 20 minutes. Totally worth it - the agent knew exactly what a restricted application was when I mentioned it. You can see how it works at claimyr.com or check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU if you're curious. After getting through, everything went smoothly and I started getting the spousal benefits about 4 weeks later.
0 coins
Giovanni Gallo
•Thanks for the tip! I've been dreading dealing with the phone system. I'll check out that service.
0 coins
Dmitry Popov
Just want to point out something nobody's mentioned yet - your post says your husband retired with SS, but then you talk about your wife's record? Can you clarify which spouse you're potentially drawing spousal benefits from? The rules would be the same, but it's important to be clear who's who when figuring this out.
0 coins
Giovanni Gallo
•Oh, sorry for the confusion! You're right - I should have been clearer. I'm the wife in this situation, and I'm the one still working until 70. My husband is already collecting his benefits. I got mixed up when writing the post. The situation is basically reversed from what I originally wrote - I'm trying to figure out if I can collect on my husband's record now without reducing my future benefits.
0 coins
Ava Rodriguez
My neighbor tried doing this and somehow messed up the application. They ended up paying her own benefits AND reduced them because they said she filed early!!! It took her 6 months to get it fixed and she had to pay back thousands. Make sure whatever you do, you get it in writing from SSA exactly what you're applying for and what impact it'll have. Don't trust what anyone tells you over the phone either!
0 coins
Giovanni Gallo
•Wow, that's scary! Did she eventually get it resolved correctly? This is why I'm trying to research carefully before I do anything.
0 coins
Miguel Ortiz
im 66 and my husband is 70 can i do this too
0 coins
Fatima Al-Mazrouei
•It depends on your birth date. Were you born before January 2, 1954? If yes, then you can file a restricted application for spousal benefits only (assuming your husband is already receiving his benefits). If you were born January 2, 1954 or later, then you cannot use this strategy - you'd be subject to deemed filing rules.
0 coins
NebulaKnight
just wanted to say thanks everyone for explaining this so clearly! i learned something new today even though this wasn't my post lol. we need to look at our birth certificates to double check our years!
0 coins