
Filing for the restricted application can be done online at SSA The United States Social Security Administration is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that administers Social Security, a social insurance program consisting of retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits. To qualify for most of these benefits, most workers pay Social …Social Security Administration
Full Answer
What does restricted social security mean?
There are many different types of Social Security benefits. A restricted application tells the Social Security office that you are not applying for all benefits you are eligible for at the same time. This is also known as “restricting the scope” of your application. When using a restricted application, you are asking for only one benefit type.
Do surviving spouses receive SSI?
Once you have reached full retirement age, you can collect 100% of your late spouse's Social Security benefit as a surviving spouse. If you have to apply to start receiving benefits earlier than your full retirement age but after age 60, it will lower the percentage you can collect on. 11.
What is title 2 ssa?
· System background description or purpose. The Social Security Administration (SSA) Title II system is a certified and accredited Major Application consisting of sub-systems and applications associated with receiving, adjudicating, and processing applications for Title II Social Security benefits.
What are the dangers of Social Security?
Stolen Social Security Number
- The Dangers of a Stolen Social Security Number. Most often, identity thieves are interested in your Social Security number in order to access additional information about you, such as your ...
- Protecting Your Social Security Number. ...
- Start Protecting Your Social Security Number with PrivacyGuard

Who is eligible for a Social Security restricted application?
1. A claimant who is caring for a child (under age 16 or disabled adult child) who is entitled to the child's benefits may have the option to restrict the application to their spouse's benefits only, even if they have not yet reached their FRA.
Can I collect spousal benefits and delay my own Social Security?
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.
What is restricted spousal benefit?
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%.
How do I restart my suspended Social Security benefits?
If your benefit payments are suspended, they will automatically start again the month you reach age 70. If you change your mind and want the payments to start before age 70, just tell us when you want your benefits reinstated. Voluntary suspension begins no earlier than the month after the month of the request.
How do I apply for half of my spouse's Social Security benefits?
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.
When can a spouse claim spousal Social Security benefits?
age 62You can claim spousal benefits as early as age 62, but you won't receive as much as if you wait until your own full retirement age. For example, if your full retirement age is 67 and you choose to claim spousal benefits at 62, you'd receive a benefit that's equal to 32.5% of your spouse's full benefit amount.
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.
Can I file for my Social Security at 62 and switch to survivor benefits later?
Social Security allows you to claim both a retirement and a survivor benefit at the same time, but the two won't be added together to produce a bigger payment; you will receive the higher of the two amounts. You would be, in effect, simply claiming the bigger benefit.
What is the best Social Security strategy for married couples?
3 Social Security Strategies for Married Couples Retiring EarlyHave the higher earner claim Social Security early. ... Have the lower earner claim Social Security early. ... Delay Social Security jointly and live on savings or other income sources.
How long does it take to get Social Security benefits reinstated?
about three monthsIt takes SSA about three months to reinstate your benefits—and you would receive a lump sum payment of the money owed to you for the time after your income dropped below the BEP.
Can you pay back Social Security and restart?
Key Takeaways. If you start collecting Social Security benefits, you may change your mind and decide to repay them back. This may be the case if you begin working again, you didn't think about the impact on your spouse, or you want a longevity hedge.
Can I suspend my Social Security and go back to work?
How To Stop Social Security If You Go Back To Work. You'll have to file what's known as a “withdrawal of benefits” if you want to suspend your Social Security payments and go back to work. You can only do this if you've filed for your retirement benefits within the previous 12 months, however.
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 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.
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.
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 ...
How long can you file a restricted application for spouse's retirement?
So long as one spouse is already claiming their own benefit, the other can file a “restricted application” for just their spousal benefit amount. Meanwhile, their own benefit continues to grow, earning delayed retirement credits of 8% per year until age 70.
Is Social Security a social insurance program?
Keep in mind that Social Security is a social insurance program. It has always been intended to provide a modest benefit for all who qualify. So, when you hear about a claiming strategy that allows a select group of retirees to claim one benefit today and get a much bigger payment later, that certainly flies in the face of the intended benefit. Coupled with the reality that changes are critical to shore up Social Security for the future, it’s easy to understand how a loophole that gave more to a select group was targeted to end.
Is the restricted application still available?
As you start your 2019 planning, keep in mind that one Social Security claiming strategy is still available for some clients: the Restrict ed Application. It is available for clients born in 1953 or earlier, or born on January 1, 1954, and who are married or divorced. This “almost-gone-but-clinging-to-the-edge” claiming strategy is alive and well.
Is restricted application a social security program?
But this is not what Social Security intended nor in the spirit of a social insurance program. Nevertheless, make sure any client born in 1953 or earlier, and who is married or divorced, considers if the Restricted Application strategy could make a difference in their retirement income plan. And, discuss the realities of one of the couple waiting until 70 to claim his or her own benefit.
How does filing before 66 affect your benefits?
First, her benefits will be reduced because she is filing early. If she files for benefits when he turns 66 and she is 64 and 10 months, her benefits will be reduced to 92.2% of what she is entitled to receive when she turns 66.
Can my wife file for Social Security at 66?
Your wife works with Social Security to make sure her benefits are increased to half of the benefits you would have received if you had filed at age 66. You cannot start receiving benefits under a restricted application until you are 66. And your wife should file for benefits starting when you turn 66.
Ways to Apply
You can complete an application for Retirement, Spouse's, Medicare or Disability Benefits online.
Retirement or Spouse's Benefits
You can apply online for Retirement or spouse's benefits or continue an application you already started.
Disability Benefits
You can apply online for disability benefits or continue an application you already started.
Appeal a Disability Decision
If your application for disability benefits was denied recently for medical reasons, you can request an appeal online or continue working on an appeal you already started.
Medicare Benefits
You can apply online for Medicare or continue an application you already started.
Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Costs
You can apply online for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
If you want to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), please read:
What to bring to the Social Security office for spousal benefits?
You may also have to bring additional information to the Social Security office, such as a marriage certificate, in order to process spousal benefits.
How many people are eligible for Social Security?
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 benefits online.
What questions do you ask when applying for retirement benefits?
When you apply for retirement benefits online, you will be asked questions about yourself along with your spouse, children, ex-spouse (if any), work, earnings and any other pensions or annuity income you may receive from employment as public-sector employee.
Can a spouse collect spousal benefits?
The purpose of it is to allow one spouse who has attained full retirement age – and is eligible for their own retirement benefit – to collect a spousal benefit only and defer their retirement benefit to earn delayed retirement credits to provide the highest monthly survivor benefit. Completing this application properly is crucial.
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.
