You can claim your own social security at 62 or whenever and make the switch to spousal benefits when your husband or wife files. Today we go over eligibility and how you to start the application process. You can file by phone or inperson by contacting your nearest social security office, or by calling 180077212. The spousal benefit allows a husband or wife to collect up to 50 percent of a working spouse s social security benefits, even if that spouse has never worked. To get that estimate, call social security at 80077212 or visit your local field office. You can complete an application for retirement, spouse s, medicare or disability benefits online. You can collect benefits on a spouses work record regardless of whether you also worked. Spousal benefit at the same time aarp online community.
These are a special kind of spousal benefits that can increase the retirement benefits of married couples or divorcees where both the husband and wife have substantial social security earnings. Technically, the application form for social security spousal benefits is an ssa2, but social security no longer uses paper application forms. In this case, you can claim your own social security beginning at 62 and make the switch to spousal benefits when your husband or wife files. If you re younger than your own full retirement age, you can still file for benefits under your spouse s record. According to aarp, if your spouse is already receiving social security when you claim your retirement benefits, you are subject to the deemed filing rule, which does not give you the choice. If a spouse was married for at least a year to a disabled worker who died while receiving social security disability benefits, the surviving spouse can get benefits in either of these circumstances. You can apply online through the social security s retirementmedicare benefits application to receive retirement, spousal or medicare benefits. Your 2019 social security spousal benefits guide the.
Note that if you are collecting benefits based on caring for a child under 16, and you work at the same time, social security will take away some of your benefits if you make over a certain amount of earned income for the year. Your 2019 social security spousal benefits guide the motley. When you re applying for social security survivor benefits, the social security administration ssa will need a lot of information about you and the decedent. Spouses of workers who paid at least 40 quarters or 10 years of social security taxes are eligible for spousal benefits. However, there is an offshoot of spousal benefits that we have not covered in much detail. An appointment is not required, but if you call ahead and schedule one, it may. Would you help us understand how to figure out my wifes options. However, if your spouse was in the workforce longer than you or made more money, spousal benefits could add to the overall benefits you receive.
You must be married for one full year 12 months before you can apply. A retroactive benefit is a lumpsum payment of up to six months worth of social. How a spouse can get benefits when his or her spouse collects. Once you and your spouse are both receiving social security benefits, upon the death of your spouse, you will continue to receive the larger of your benefitor your spouse sbut not both. Social security options for spouses, widows, and ex. The social security administration retirement estimator tool assesses benefits based on your personal earnings record, but you can t run spousal or survivor scenarios. It creates a larger monthly benefit amount that becomes the survivor benefit when the first spouse passes. This allows you to receive a benefit equal to 50% of your spouses pia while delaying your own benefit to accrue the delayed retirement credits of 8% per year of delay. Jul 01, 2016 the first thing to know is how social security spousal benefits are calculated.
If you receive a spousal benefit because you are caring for a child who is under age 16 or disabled. If you have your spouses consent, you may act as his representative and apply for social security retirement benefits including medicare online. You will need to have both of you there, on the phone, or in person, to answer. Social security spousal benefits raise questions about age. How can my wife get the biggest social security spousal. The question of when should you get benefits is much more difficult to answer. Oct 15, 2018 roughly 10,000 to 15,000 people become eligible each day to file for social security retirement benefits, and, as the world goes, the social security administration is driving them to apply for. If you understand these rules it could make a big difference in the amount of benefits you. Making the right decisions can significantly increase monthly benefits, as well as the total funds received over a lifetime. The surviving spouse is disabled and between 50 and 60.
How a spouse can get benefits when his or her spouse. However, the online application is far more efficient. There was a change in the law in 2015 the bipartisan budget act of 2015 public law 11474. To find out more about social security for samesex couples, you can contact social security directly by phone at 180077212, or visit a local social security office. Apply for social security benefits social security. Learn how you qualify and how to apply for spousal benefits or survivor benefits if you are a widow or widower. November 2, 2015 concerning social security that closed some unintended loopholes.
Applying for spousal benefits if you havent reached your full retirement age yet. Application for wifes or husbands insurance benefits social security. Choosing when and how you apply for social security can. Mar 05, 2010 finally, the social security retirement system is gender neutral, so while this article has assumed that the wife is the one applying for social security spousal benefits, if the wife earns more than the husband, the husband can apply for spousal benefits based on his wifes earnings. My wife is currently 62 and would retire soon if we can determine how much in spousal benefits she would receive at 62, 63, 63, 65 and fra at 66 based on mine.
Heres how to maximize your social security benefit. If you have reached full retirement age, however, you can make a restricted application to receive only your spousal benefits. One wonderful aspect of social security is the fact that a spouse who has little or. How to navigate spousal benefits under new social security rules. You can download a users guide and the calculator from the website. How to maximize social security with spousal benefits. You wont find an estimate for the spousal benefit on either spouses social security statement. Social security s online applications can only be accessed by people who actually intend to file for benefits, and i have no personal experience with the online filing process. You can collect benefits on a spouse s work record regardless of whether you also worked. The paper application form for spousal benefits is an ssa2, but i dont know. How do you apply for spousal social security benefits answers. Did you, or your spouse, or prior spouse work in the railroad industry for 5 years or more. But even if theres no death, you can collect a social security spousal benefit equal to half of what your spouse gets, if thats higher than what you. Aarp 10102018 can i collect spousal benefits and wait until i am 70 to collect my own social sec.
You could potentially file a restricted application for just spousal. You are at least 62 unless you are caring for a child who is under 16 or disabled, in which case the age rule does not apply. What is the eligibility for social security spouses benefits. Filing for social security survivor benefits as a divorced spouse is private and involves only you and the social security administration. Before making a determination for your retirement, consider the following. When you file for social security benefits, your spouse may be eligible for. We can help with our custom social security retirement and spouse benefit analysis. Lowerearning spouses who claim their own social security benefit before full retirement age take a cut of as much as 25%.
You can expect the following when applying for social security spousal benefits. If your own retirement benefit is lower than your spousal benefit, social security will pay you the higher amount. If you re eligible to collect retirement benefits on your own work history, as well as spousal benefits, social security essentially pays you the higher of the two, he said. An appointment is not required, but if you call ahead and schedule one, it may reduce the time you spend waiting to apply. How are spousal benefits calculated for social security.
How to apply for survivors benefits you cannot apply for survivors benefits online. According to social security s website, though, you can apply for spousal benefits online. Follow these steps to make sure you will receive the maximum possible social security benefit. Jul 15, 2019 as i mentioned before, if your spouse qualifies for u. What is the eligibility for social security spouses. The ultimate guide to social security spousal benefits in. Social security will not pay the sum of your retirement and spousal benefits.
Can continue to receive benefit if remarry after age 60 or age 50 if disabled, or disabled after age 50. Dealing with social security and medicare during the. Social security spousal benefits are some of the most generous benefits you ll receive in retirement. Once approved, you would receive monthly payments by check or direct deposit. Nov 24, 2019 you may claim social security spousal benefits as early as age 62, but the amount of your benefit is permanently reduced according to the number of months left until you reach full retirement age. You can either claim your own social security benefit or a spousal benefit. Social security benefits for a nonworking spouse canandaigua. They can boost the payout when they collect a spousal. To claim a social security benefit based on your spouse s work record, your spouse has to first file for their own benefit.
If you are qualified to receive an old age, survivor, or disability insurance benefit from the social security administration ssa at the time that you file your railroad retirement application, and you indicate on the application that you want to use your application to protect your filing date for a social security benefit, ssa will get in touch with you and advise you on how to file a. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Yes, you can file a restricted application for spousal benefits only, which will allow you to receive the spousal benefit alone, without impacting your own retirement benefit. Social security makes this a little bit like alphabet soup, as youll soon see. If your spouse had started benefits, but you had not, you can choose to collect a survivor benefit now, then switch to your benefit at your age 70 if. The benefit is similar, in fact, to the spousal benefit that is available to a person who is still married. The family of your ex spouse wont be notified should you apply for benefits. Survivors must apply for this payment within two years of the date of death. Form ssa2 information you need to apply for spouses or divorced spouses benefits. According to social securitys website, though, you can apply for spousal benefits online.
Theres no limit to the number of people who may receive survivor benefits from a single workers social security account. Can i apply for my spouses social security benefits online. How to calculate your own social security spousal benefits the right way the spousal benefit calculation is straightforward if you dont have a benefit of your own. Read it all, i am only printing some important areas for you social security. Understanding spouses benefits social security matters. Heres an overview of benefits for the spouse of a retiring worker.
Can i switch from my social security benefit to a spousal. Apply first for your benefits, then call them to add your spouse. These benefits are equal to half of what the person who paid into social security receives. Filing for social security and the restricted application online. Applying for spousal social security disability benefits. Social security spousal benefits pay a beneficiarys spouse in retirement, even if the spouse did not work. According to the ssas rules, however, there are a few catches. If you expect to claim spousal social security benefits, its important to understand how your timing can make a significant impact on the size of your checks. If you opt for the spousal benefits, your own unclaimed social security benefits will continue to grow untouched at 8% a year until age 70. You may claim social security spousal benefits as early as age 62, but the amount of your benefit is permanently reduced according to the number of months left until you. Social security benefits continue until the month after the death of the recipient. You can file for spousal benefits the same way you would earned benefits. You can receive spousal benefits when you reach retirement age or a permanently reduced spousal benefit beginning at age 62. Jan 15, 2017 social securitys online applications can only be accessed by people who actually intend to file for benefits, and i have no personal experience with the online filing process.
You can start collecting spousal benefits as soon as 1 you have reached age 62 and 2 your husband has started collecting his own retirement benefit, says piper. Social security options for spouses, widows, and exspouses flyer. However, you maximize your spousal benefit by taking it at your full retirement age, presently 66 for most people. How to apply for social security spouse benefits sapling. Jul 18, 2016 these are a special kind of spousal benefits that can increase the retirement benefits of married couples or divorcees where both the husband and wife have substantial social security earnings. You can only make the switch to a spousal benefit if your spouse has not yet claimed their social security benefit at the time of your initial filing. Calculations of social security benefits can be complicated depending upon the earning records of each spouse, and the age at which they begin drawing benefits. Many people claim their benefits at age 62, which, of course, is when they are first available. You can file for a spousal benefit as early as age 62. Create a my social security account and download your social security. But even if theres no death, you can collect a social security spousal benefit equal to half of what your spouse gets, if thats higher than what youd get on your own. To squeeze the most out of spousal social security benefits, however, it can be best to wait until reaching your full social security age.
If you apply for social security spousal benefits, youll want to know the ins and outs of the process. The right to receive spousal benefits is even more valuable in retirement planning when you consider the following options available to social security beneficiaries. Can i file for my social security at 62 and switch to spousal benefits. However you apply, you need to have several documents available if the agency requests them.
Since he is at least age 65, he couldnt decline part a of medicare and still file for social security spousal or retirement benefits. Can i collect social security on my spouses record. This decision becomes significantly more complex if you are or were married. Social security operates with a philosophy that a divorced person may deserve a personal benefit, having been the longterm partner and helpmate of a member of the workforce. If you re eligible for your own retirement benefits, you ll get those first. Between our social security blog, our radio showpodcast, and conversations in the office we have discussed social security benefits for spouses an innumerable amount of times. For couples who have not started benefits yetyou can maximize the survivor benefit that is available by having the highest earner of the two wait until age 70 to begin social security benefits. If you are married and you wait until your full retirement age, you enjoy two options. But even if theres no death, you can collect a social security spousal benefit equal to half of what your spouse gets, if thats higher than what you d get on your own. Your 2018 guide to social security spousal benefits the. Feb, 2019 to find out more about social security for samesex couples, you can contact social security directly by phone at 180077212, or visit a local social security office. As with other social security retirement benefits, you can begin taking them at age 62, but if you do so, you.
At what age should you collect a social security spousal. If you do not wish to use the online application, or the application for the benefit you want is not available online, you can. How to maximize social security spousal benefits rules. Being aware of the free spousal benefits from social security. Mar 26, 2020 you are at least 62 unless you are caring for a child who is under 16 or disabled, in which case the age rule does not apply. Mar 28, 2017 spouses of workers who paid at least 40 quarters or 10 years of social security taxes are eligible for spousal benefits. Form ssa2 information you need to apply for spouses or. If you prefer, you can also apply by phone or in person at your nearest social security administration office. Navigating your options for spousal or exspousal benefits.
If youre younger than your own full retirement age, you can still file for benefits under your spouses record. Can you get social security on your spouse s work record. As a spouse, you can claim a social security benefit based on your own earnings record, or collect a spousal benefit in the amount of 50% of your spouses. The social security system is complex across the board, and spousal and exspousal benefits may be the most complicated of all, whether youre married, divorced or widowed. By calling our national tollfree service at 180077212 tty 18003250778 or visiting your local social security office. So, you can only receive additional spouse s benefits if your own full retirement benefit not your reduced benefit is less than half of your husbands full retirement benefit.
Deemed filing for retirement and spouses benefits faqs. Online, if you are within 3 months of age 62 or older, or. Finally, the social security retirement system is gender neutral, so while this article has assumed that the wife is the one applying for social security spousal benefits, if the wife earns more than the husband, the husband can apply for spousal benefits based on his wifes earnings. To report a death or apply for survivors benefits, please. Social security retirement benefits online, in person or by telephone. You and your husband may want to consider an expert social. Can you switch from an individual social security benefit to. Generally, during the initial interview when applying for social security benefits, we typically explore all other benefits that could yield you a. Nov 30, 2019 even if your exspouse has not applied for hisher social security benefits, you can still apply for your spousal benefit based upon their earnings record. If you do have enough credits to qualify for your own social security benefits and you apply for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. You can receive up to 50% of your spouse s social security benefit.
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