Since you've already filed for your retirement benefit, you cannot by definition file a restricted application for just your spousal benefit. The only way that you could potentially file a restricted application for spousal benefits is if you withdraw your application for Social Security retirement benefits.
Full Answer
What are the benefits of SSA?
Social Security's Disability Insurance Benefits are federally funded and administered by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Social Security pays disability benefits to you and certain members of your family if you have worked long enough... Social Security and Retirement.
What is social security restricted application strategy?
- Your spouse, who may not have reached their full retirement age, may be subject to the annual earnings limitation, which is $17,640 for 2019
- If your spouse has suspended their own worker benefit, no spousal benefit is available
- You may be affected by the Government Pension Offset
What is a SSA check?
Social Security has long been a cornerstone of American democracy. However, it has also undergone some dramatic changes in the over 80 years since its passage. While the core program remains ...
Can spouse benefit from your SSDI benefits?
You can collect Social Security disability benefits as a spouse, based on your own earnings, or you can apply under your spouse’s Social Security benefits. If you choose the latter, you will receive 50 percent of the amount that is allocated to your spouse, based on calculations pertaining to their retirement age.
When can I apply for restricted spousal benefits?
You can use a restricted application to claim a spousal benefit while letting your benefit continue to grow if:You were born on or before January 1, 1954.You are currently married; or, you are divorced (and eligible for a benefit on an ex-spouse's record).More items...
Is there a special application for spousal benefits?
There's no special spousal benefit application -- you apply for your own Social Security retirement benefit and a spousal benefit (if you qualify) at the same time.
Can I collect spousal benefits and wait until I am 67 to collect my own Social Security?
You can only collect spousal benefits and wait until 70 to claim your retirement benefit if both of the following are true: You were born before Jan. 2, 1954. Your spouse is collecting his or her own Social Security retirement benefit.
Can a divorced spouse file a restricted application?
Can I collect Social Security as a divorced spouse and wait to claim my own retirement benefit? In most circumstances, no. You can only file what Social Security calls a “restricted application” to claim ex-spousal benefits alone and postpone claiming your retirement benefits if: You were born before Jan.
Can I apply for spousal benefits online?
Form SSA-2 | Information You Need to Apply for Spouse's or Divorced Spouse's Benefits. You can apply: Online, if you are within 3 months of age 62 or older, or. By calling our national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting your local Social Security office.
Who is eligible for a Social Security restricted application?
If you are age 66 but your spouse is 60, you'll need to wait at least two years to use this maneuver. But if your spouse is, say, 68 and claiming a benefit, you can file a restricted application for a spousal benefit off his record and let your own grow to age 70. Ex-spouses catch a break.
What are the rules for spousal benefits of Social Security?
To qualify for spouse's benefits, you must be one of these: At least 62 years of age. Any age and caring for a child entitled to receive benefits on your spouse's record and who is younger than age 16 or disabled.
Can my wife claim spousal benefits before I retire?
No. You have to be receiving your Social Security retirement or disability benefit for your husband or wife to collect spousal benefits.
How Do Social Security spousal benefits work?
The spousal benefit can be as much as half of the worker's "primary insurance amount," depending on the spouse's age at retirement. If the spouse begins receiving benefits before "normal (or full) retirement age," the spouse will receive a reduced benefit.
Can I collect my ex husband's Social Security instead of mine?
To be eligible, you must have been married to your ex-spouse for 10 years or more. If you have since remarried, you can't collect benefits on your former spouse's record unless your later marriage ended by annulment, divorce, or death.
What is restricted application for spouse?
One provision of Social Security benefits that is relatively unknown is the restricted application for Spousal Benefits. This provision allows a person to apply for benefits based upon his or her spouse’s record while delaying receipt of benefits based upon his or her own record. The restricted application is only available when three factors have ...
How long do you have to be divorced to file for spousal benefits?
In addition, if the former spouse has not filed for his or her own benefit, the couple must have been divorced for at least two years when he or she files for Spousal Benefits. If there was more than one ex-spouse who fits all of the requirements, the individual can choose the Spousal Benefit that is the largest.
Documents you may need to provide
We may ask you to provide documents to show that you are eligible, such as:
What we will ask you
You should also have your checkbook or other papers that show your account number at a bank, credit union or other financial institution so you can sign up for Direct Deposit, and avoid worries about lost or stolen checks and mail delays.
What is restricted application for Social Security?
A Social Security restricted application is a way for a married couple to choose which Social Security benefit they want to collect – their own, or 1/2 of their spouses. It allows a married couple to simultaneously delay one of their benefits to 70 to get the annual 8% bonuses, and at the same time still receive Social Security income TODAY.
What is restricted application?
Generally speaking, this is the profile of someone who is able to do a Social Security restricted application: 1. Married couple. 2.
How much of your spouse's benefit can you get if you are less than your spouse?
Your own benefit is what you’d be eligible for based on your own work history. If your benefit is less than your spouses, at most you can get up to one-half of your spouse’s benefit. If your benefit is more then you might have some options depending on what year you were born:
Can you delay your unemployment benefits to 70?
On the other hand, if you have a family history of longevity then there is a good chance you’d live long enough to make up for delaying benefits. In this case you would consider delaying benefits to 70 in order to give yourself the maximum amount of income for the rest of your life.
What is the purpose of restricted application?
The purpose of using the restricted application is to allow the qualifying spouse to collect spousal benefits only, while deferring their own worker benefit to age 70 if they wish, and earn delayed retirement credits, up to an additional 32%.
What is the limit on spousal benefits?
You also need to keep in mind that if you use the restricted application, your spousal benefit may be reduced for the following reasons: Your spouse, who may not have reached their full retirement age, may be subject to the annual earnings limitation, which is $17,640 for 2019.
What is considered filing for Social Security?
Deemed filing is the Social Security rule that says any time you apply for your Social Security benefits, you will be applying for any and all benefits available to you. Since you are always paid your own worker benefit first if you have one , if spousal benefits are available to you , you also will be paid spousal benefits.
When can I start collecting my own worker benefits?
Many times, people think that when they use the restricted application they will wait until 70 to start collecting their own worker benefit, only to find out that by preparing an in-depth analysis they should start their own worker benefits at 69 years and 3 months, or some other age than 70.
Can I use restricted application if I was born before 1/2/1954?
Born before 1/2/1954 – if you are born after 1/2/1954 – you cannot utilize the restricted application. Must be eligible for your own retirement benefit. Your spouse needs to be receiving their own worker benefit. You also need to keep in mind that if you use the restricted application, your spousal benefit may be reduced for the following reasons: ...
Is restricted application good for Social Security?
Although the restricted application is a very valuable tool to use in your Social Security claiming strategy, it needs to be implemented strategically to optimize the results. Always remember, if you take the wrong benefit at the wrong time, it’s always smaller and it’s forever. Dying is cheap – living is expensive!
Can a high earner spouse use restricted insurance?
If the qualifying spouse is the high earner and their Primary Insurance Amount is greater than their non-qualifying spouses Primary Insurance Amount, in almost every situation, it is beneficial for the qualifying high earner spouse to use the restricted application. If the qualifying spouse is the low earner and their Primary Insurance Amount is ...
What is restricted application?
What Is A Restricted Application? If you were born in 1953 or earlier, then you can file a “restricted application.”. This enables you to file for spousal benefits now and retirement benefits later.
When can I file for Social Security if I was born in 1954?
First, if one or both spouses were born in 1953 or earlier, then they may use this filing strategy. This also includes those born on January 1, 1954 because Social Security consider a person born on the first day of the month to be born in the previous month.
What is restricted application?
The restricted application is a planning tool, used at full retirement age, that allows you to restrict your application for spousal benefits only and delay your own retirement benefit to age 70. This allows you to accumulate delayed retirement credits, effectively increasing your retirement benefit up to 32%.
How much is my spouse's spousal benefit?
So, if your spouse’s full retirement age benefit is $2,500 and yours is $1,000, your maximum spousal benefit will be $250 ($1,250 - $1,000).
What is deemed filing?
The deemed filing rule affects your spouse, provided your spouse files for benefits for the first time before their full retirement age and you are receiving benefits. If your spouse files for their retirement benefit before full retirement age , they will be “deemed” to have filed for any and all benefits available to them.
What does deemed filing mean for Social Security?
Now, who is affected by the deemed filing rule, and what does it do? The deemed fi ling rule affects your spouse, provided your spouse files for benefits for the first time before their full retirement age ...
When is deemed filing due for 2020?
The deemed filing rules were changed by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. The new rules require deemed filing for all people who turn 66 years old on or after Jan. 2 , 2020. That means that 2020 is the first year deemed filing will affect everyone. With the new rules in effect, if you are receiving your retirement benefit ...
Can you file for spousal benefits before full retirement?
Until then, deemed filing only affects people filing before full retirement age, and the restricted application is still available to them. The new law is designed to prevent you from collecting only spousal benefits while you earn delayed retirement credits on your retirement benefit.
Can my spouse receive spousal benefits?
So, if spousal benefits are available, your spouse will receive spousal benefits in addition to their retirement benefit – whether they want them or not. Not only will your spouse receive both benefits, but they both will be reduced permanently as a result of filing early. This decision can never be changed.
When do you have to file deemed filing?
In addition, deemed filing may occur in any month after becoming entitled to retirement benefits. Deemed filing means that when you file for either your retirement or your spouse’s benefit, you are required or “deemed” to file for the other benefit as well. The Bipartisan Budget Act extends deemed filing rules to apply at full retirement age ...
What is voluntary suspension?
The worker’s voluntary suspension permitted a spousal benefit to be paid to their spouse while the worker was not collecting retirement benefits. The worker would then restart their retirement benefits later, for example at age 70, with an increase for every month retirement benefits were suspended.
How old is Maria's husband?
Her husband, Joe, is 65. They have each worked enough years to earn a retirement benefit. In March of 2020, Maria has reached her full retirement age and files for benefits. Maria is eligible for a spousal benefit on Joe’s record. Maria must file for both benefits.
Can a spouse receive spousal benefits at full retirement age?
Previously some spouses received spousal benefits at full retirement age, while letting the retirement benefits based on their earnings record grow by delaying to file for benefits.
Does Jennie receive her own retirement?
She does not start her own retirement benefit, allowing it to grow. At age 70, she starts her own increased retirement benefit, which she will receive for the rest of her life. The new law does not affect her because deemed filing does not apply to widows and widowers. Jennie will receive the higher of the two benefits.
Does deemed filing apply to survivors?
Deemed filing applies to retirement benefits, not survivor’s benefits. If you are a widow or widower, you may start your survivor benefit independently of your retirement benefit. De emed filing also does not apply if you receive spouse's benefits and are entitled to disability, or if you are receiving spousal benefits because you are caring for ...