how to apply for restricted spousal 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

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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.

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.

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.

When can I collect half of my husband's Social Security?

A spouse can choose to retire as early as age 62, but doing so may result in a benefit as little as 32.5 percent of the worker's primary insurance amount. A spousal benefit is reduced 25/36 of one percent for each month before normal retirement age, up to 36 months.

Can I collect spousal benefits and wait until I am 70 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 my wife collect spousal Social Security 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.

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.

Can you still file a restricted application for Social Security?

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).

How spousal benefit is calculated?

A person's primary insurance amount is the amount of their monthly retirement benefit, if they file for that benefit exactly at their full retirement age. A Social Security spousal benefit is calculated as 50% of the other spouse's PIA.

Can I take my Social Security and then switch to spousal benefit?

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. Social Security will not pay the sum of your retirement and spousal benefits; you'll get a payment equal to the higher of the two benefits.

Can I collect my ex husband's Social Security then switch to mine?

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 collect Social Security spousal benefits and still work?

You can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. But, if you're younger than full retirement age, and earn more than certain amounts, your benefits will be reduced.

How do I switch from spousal benefit to age 70?

You will have to file an application to switch from survivor benefits on a late spouse's work record to retirement benefits on your own record. You should apply four months before you want your retirement benefit to start.

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.

How old do you have to be to get spousal benefits?

Spousal Benefit Eligibility. You are eligible for spousal benefits if your spouse has filed for Social Security benefits and you are at least age 62 or caring for a child who's entitled to receive benefits on your spouse’s record and who is younger than age 16 or is disabled. 3 . Unless you are entitled to benefits based on a qualifying child, ...

What is the full retirement age for a person born in 1960?

For people born in 1960 or later, for example, full retirement age is 67. 4 . If you start collecting spousal benefits at age 62, you'll receive an amount that's between 32.5% and 37% of your spouse's full benefit.

Does the Bipartisan Budget Act change spousal benefits?

The new law didn't, however, do away with spousal benefits entirely.

Can I claim my own spousal benefits at age 70?

By waiting to claim their own benefit (up to age 70), they will earn delayed retirement credits, which result in a bigger monthly benefit when they finally do file for it . 2 . For anyone born on Jan. 2, 1954 or later, however, the ability to claim a spousal benefit using a restricted application has been eliminated.

Can a divorced spouse file for Social Security?

As with spousal benefits for current spouses, divorced spouses filing for spous al benefits may be subject to the Social Security earnings test if they haven't reached full retirement age and are working. 5 .

Can I claim my spouse's Social Security benefits if I never contributed to Social Security?

The new law didn't, however, do away with spousal benefits entirely. If you qualify, it is still possible to claim benefits based on your spouse's earnings history, even if you never contributed to Social Security yourself. 1 .

Can a spouse file for spousal benefits?

Spouses can still file for a spousal benefit, but when they do, they will be considered to have filed for all benefits available to them, including their own benefit . They will then receive whichever benefit is higher, but not be able to switch from a spousal benefit to their own benefit later on. 2 .

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.

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 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.

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.