Create or open your my Social Security account, scroll to the ‘Plan for Retirement’ section, and:
- Select ‘See what you could receive from a spouse’ if you are not eligible for retirement benefits yourself or select the ‘Include a spouse?’ tab if you are eligible for ...
- Choose a future age or date when you would like to start receiving spouse’s benefits.
- Enter your spouse’s retirement benefit estimate at their full retirement age or PIA.
Can I switch from my social security benefit to a spousal benefit?
If your spouse is already getting Social Security when you claim benefits, you are subject to the "deemed filing" rule. Under this provision, you don't have a choice whether to wait and switch. When you apply for your retirement benefit, you're also automatically deemed to be applying for spousal benefits, if you're entitled to them. Jan 9 2020
Will working decrease my Spousal survivor benefit?
No, the effect that working has on benefits is only on the benefits of the person who is actually working. It will have no effect on the benefits received by other family members. Learn more about survivors benefits for spouses and survivors benefits for divorced spouses, including the eligibility requirements. Talk to a Disability Lawyer.
How to maximize social security with spousal benefits?
According to the Social Security Administration, you may qualify for spousal benefits if:
- Your spouse is already collecting retirement benefits.
- You have been married for at least a year.
- You are at least 62 years old (unless you are caring for a child who is under 16 or disabled).
When are spousal benefits stop?
You can start taking benefits as early as age 62, but if you do so, then the benefit will be permanently reduced. The spousal benefit continues until one spouse dies. The survivor then may be eligible for survivor benefits.
Can I switch from my own benefits to spousal benefits?
Under this provision, you don't have a choice whether to wait and switch. When you apply for your retirement benefit, you're also automatically deemed to be applying for spousal benefits, if you're entitled to them. Again, Social Security will pay the greater of the two benefit amounts.
When can my wife start collecting spousal 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 switch from spousal benefits?
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.
How do you qualify for spousal benefits from 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 you collect Social Security and spousal benefits at the same time?
Each spouse can claim their own retirement benefit based solely on their individual earnings history. You can both collect your full amounts at the same time. However, your spouse's earnings could affect the overall amount you get from Social Security, if you receive spousal benefits.
Can my wife collect spousal Social Security benefits before I retire?
Can my spouse collect Social Security on my record 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 switch to 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.
Can I apply for spousal benefits if my spouse has not filed?
To be eligible for a spousal benefit, your spouse must have filed for their own benefits. An ex-spouse is exempt from that rule.
How much is Social Security spousal benefit?
According to the Social Security Administration, the spousal benefit is up to 50% of a worker's benefit at full retirement age, which is age 66 or 67. Claiming benefits before full retirement age reduces your benefit amount.
How many years do you have to be married to claim spouses Social Security?
one continuous yearHow long does someone have to be married to collect Social Security spouse benefits? To receive a spouse benefit, you generally must have been married for at least one continuous year to the retired or disabled worker on whose earnings record you are claiming benefits. There are narrow exceptions to the one-year rule.
How much can I receive as a spouse?
The maximum you can receive as a spouse or ex-spouse is 50 percent of your former spouse’s benefit at Full Retirement Age. So, if their benefit at Full Retirement Age would be $2,000 a month, you may be eligible to receive up to $1,000 a month if you wait until Full Retirement Age to file for spousal benefits.
How much do I get if I file for Social Security at 62?
How much you receive, though, depends on when you file . If you file at age 62, you will receive a smaller percentage of your spouse’s benefit — roughly 30 percent versus 50 percent. Once you file for your benefits as a spouse, the amount you receive freezes at that amount for the rest of your life, which makes it worthwhile to see how long you can ...
Can I apply for spousal benefits if my spouse has retired?
The rules around spousal benefits can be complicated. Generally speaking, you can only apply for spousal benefits if your spouse has applied for their retirement benefits . If your spouse is eligible for retirement benefits, but has not yet filed for them, you can’t apply.
Can I get Social Security if my ex-husband made more money than I did?
In short, the answer is, yes.
Can I file for Social Security if I am an ex-spouse?
If, however, you are an ex-spouse, the rules are different. If you were married at least 10 years, and you and your former spouse are at least 62, and your former spouse is eligible for Social Security benefits, you may file for spousal benefits on their record even if they haven’t filed. Your filing as an ex-spouse will not impact the amount ...
Social Security Spouse's Benefit Estimates
Plan for your future with a my Social Security account. With a my Social Security account, you can view the benefits you could receive based on your spouse’s earnings history, or the benefits your spouse could receive based on your earnings history.
Follow these steps to get started
Ask your spouse to create or open their my Social Security account, go to the ‘Plan for Retirement’ section, and note their retirement benefit estimate at their full retirement age or Primary Insurance Amount (PIA).
How much is spousal benefit?
Depending on how old you are when you file, the spousal benefit amount will range between 32.5% and 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s full retirement benefit. Check out the chart below to get an idea of how the benefit works and what your payment might be if you can take advantage ...
How long do you have to be married to get spousal benefits?
The Two Exceptions to Know Around the 1 Year Marriage Requirement. Normally, you must be married for at least 12 continuous months to meet the spousal benefit duration-of-marriage requirement. However, there are two exceptions to this rule.
How many people receive Social Security benefits as a spouse?
A recent Social Security report found that 2.3 million individuals received at least part of their benefit as a spouse of an entitled worker. Some of these spouses had benefits of their own, but were eligible to receive higher benefit because the spousal benefit amount was greater than their own benefit. Others never worked outside the home ...
What is the 1 year requirement for Social Security?
The 1-year requirement is also waived if you were entitled (or potentially entitled!) to Social Security benefits on someone else’s work record in the month before you were married. An example of these benefits would be spousal benefits, survivor benefits or parent’s benefits.
What is Julie's reduction to her own benefit?
This means that Julie’s reduction to her own benefit would be based on her age when she filed for her benefit. However, her reduction to the spousal benefit would be based on her age when Joe filed for his benefit. So, if Julie filed when she was 62, her own benefit would be reduced.
How much of my spouse's Social Security is my full retirement?
Remember, in that case, it’s between 32.5% and 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s full retirement age benefit, depending on your filing age. However, it can seem a little more complicated if you have Social Security benefits from your work history.
Can a spouse receive Social Security?
They have no benefit of their own, but thanks to the Social Security spousal benefit available under their spouse’s work record, they can still receive payments. This particular benefit doesn’t just provide retirement income, either. As an eligible spouse, you could also receive premium-free Medicare benefits.
How old do you have to be to claim spousal benefits?
To claim a spousal benefit based on an ex-spouse's earnings record, your ex-spouse has to be 62 and eligible for benefits, but there is no requirement that they must have already filed for benefits. 1 . To claim a spousal benefit based on your current spouse's earnings record, your current spouse must have filed for their own benefits already ...
What happens if my spouse has already filed for spousal support?
If your spouse has already filed, you will automatically receive the larger of your own or the spousal benefit. If your spouse has not filed yet but you have, when your spouse files, the deemed filing rules come into play.
What is deemed filing for Social Security?
Deemed Filing Rules. When you file for your Social Security retirement benefits you are deemed to be filing for both your own benefit and a spousal benefit, and you will be given the higher of the two. 3 .
Is Social Security confusing?
Social Security spousal benefits are confusing, and among the most common thing readers ask about. The most frequent cause for confusion comes from one small difference between benefits for a spouse versus an ex-spouse.
Can a spouse collect spousal benefits if their spouse is suspended?
Due to Social Security laws that were passed in November 2015 anyone who suspends benefits after April 30, 2016, will end up suspending all benefits based on their record — which means a spouse cannot collect spousal benefits during a time when their spouse has " suspended" benefits. 3 .
Can my wife switch from spousal to retirement?
Just to clarify, though, your wife can't "switch" from drawing her own retirement benefits to drawing spousal benefits instead. What she would be applying for is a partial, or excess, spousal benefit to be paid in addition to her retirement benefit. Your wife will only qualify for an excess spousal benefit if 50% of your primary insurance amount ...
Can my wife get spousal benefits?
Your wife will only qualify for an excess spousal benefit if 50% of your primary insurance amount (PIA) is higher than her own PIA, and she can't qualify for spousal benefits at least until you start drawing your benefits. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits ...
