Rothman
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2013
- Messages
- 252
I've been trying to understand how the SS spousal benefit works and reading online I get conflicting answers. My wife had limited working years but does qualify for a reduced benefit of $550 at 62. But reading the SS website it also says she gets larger of her benefit or spousal, and since my FRA benefit is around $3000 puts her spousal at $1500 at her FRA with reduction to 62 will still be greater than $550. However many references say she can't qualify for spousal until I file, and based on input here my thought was I file and suspend at 67 my FRA and delay claim to 70. As I understand I can't file and suspend at 62?
So my question is can she get spousal benefit prior to me filing? If not I think best scenario in our case is she files at 62 on her record, refiles or gets for spousal when I file and suspend at 67 and then would get my higher survivor benefit based on my 3 years of waiting to collect? I think this does mean we lose the delta of reduced spousal versus her benefit for 8 years so maybe it needs more thought.
Appreciate guidance
Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum
So my question is can she get spousal benefit prior to me filing? If not I think best scenario in our case is she files at 62 on her record, refiles or gets for spousal when I file and suspend at 67 and then would get my higher survivor benefit based on my 3 years of waiting to collect? I think this does mean we lose the delta of reduced spousal versus her benefit for 8 years so maybe it needs more thought.
Appreciate guidance
Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum