Social security question

mathjak107

Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
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6,204
heres what im thinking, wife takes hers at 62,,, at 66 i file for 1/2 hers ,
at 70 i file for my full but the question is at that point can she switch to 1/2 mine which is more than her own ?
 
i guess we all know the answere right up to the point where she is ready to switch back to 1/2 mine but its at that point im not sure... guess when the time comes ill have to hang on the phone with ss and find out .
 
Don't really know answer to your question but would wonder if she would be entitled
to the full 50% because she had started her own early at 62. Try asking at
bogleheads.org


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Spouse’s benefits(from SSA booklet)
A spouse who has not worked or who has low earnings can be entitled to as much as one-half of the retired worker’s full benefit. If you are eligible for both your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit.

If you have reached your full retirement age, and are eligible for a spouse’s or ex-spouse’s benefit and your own retirement benefit, you may choose to receive only spouse’s benefits and continue accruing delayed retirement credits on your own Social Security record. You may then file for benefits at a later date and receive a higher monthly benefit based on the effect of delayed retirement credits.

If you are receiving a pension based on work where you did not pay Social Security taxes, your spouse’s benefit may be reduced. Additional information on pensions from work not covered by Social Security can be found in Pensions from work not covered by Social Security

If spouses want to get Social Security retirement benefits before they reach full retirement age, the amount of the benefit is reduced permanently. The amount of reduction depends on when the person reaches full retirement age.

For example:

If full retirement age is 65, a spouse can get 37.5 percent of the worker’s unreduced benefit at age 62;

If full retirement age is 66, a spouse can get 35 percent of the worker’s unreduced benefit at age 62;

If full retirement age is 67, a spouse can get 32.5 percent of the worker’s unreduced benefit at age 62.

The amount of the benefit increases at later ages up to the maximum of 50 percent at full retirement age. If full retirement age is other than those shown here the amount of the benefit will fall between 32.5 percent and 37.5 percent at age 62.

However, if your spouse is taking care of a child who is under age 16 or disabled and gets Social Security benefits on your record, your spouse gets full benefits, regardless of age.

Here is an example:

Mary Ann qualifies for a retirement benefit of $250 and a spouse’s benefit of $400. At her full retirement age, she will receive her own $250 retirement benefit, and we will add $150 from her spouse’s benefit, for a total of $400. If she takes her retirement benefit before her full retirement age, both amounts will be reduced.

NOTE: Your current spouse cannot receive spouse’s benefits until you file for retirement benefits.
 
I would suggest you pose the question to "sscritic" over on Bogleheads.

He/She is the resident expert on SS questions, and can usually cite the SS document that answers your specific question....
 
so if im understanding this correctly no, she cant switch to 1/2 mine after taking hers early
 
so if im understanding this correctly no, she cant switch to 1/2 mine after taking hers early

That is the way I read it too. Evidently they tie the spouse benefit
calculation to the age you start taking your own benefit.
 
im still not totaly clear on one thing.... if my wife takes it early at 62 and gets 900.00 , i file for spousal and get 1/2 hers at 66....

at 70 i file for my full.... does that mean she gets hers and in addition since 1/2 my early would be 100 more then her early that they raise her up 100 ? remember im not filing until 70 so im getting the max..... i understand she wouldnt get 1/2 my max level but does she get raised to 1/2 my early level which is more than her own early?

im still not
 
The way I understand it, the amount of her spousal benefit is independent of when you file and it is based on your full retirement record. the spousal benefit is a maximum of 50% of your full retirement age benefit.
If she waits until her full retirement age she gets the maximum , otherwise she gets a downgraded percentage of the 50% depending on when she starts her own benefits.
You must be at least 62 for her start collecting the spousal benefit.
 

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