I get this question … A LOT! Can I file now and then later get Spousal Benefits?
Yes…as long as your Spouse hasn’t filed yet. But I don’t think it’s going to amount to that much.
In this video I show you why.
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Social Security: Can I File at 62 and Switch to Spousal Benefits Later?
Social Security benefits are an important source of retirement income for many Americans. While most people are familiar with the basics of how Social Security works, there are still many questions that arise when it comes to claiming benefits. One of the most common questions is whether it’s possible to file for Social Security at age 62 and then switch to spousal benefits later. In this article, we’ll explore this question and provide some answers.
First, let’s look at what Social Security benefits are. Social Security is a government program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to eligible individuals. Most people become eligible for Social Security benefits when they reach age 62, although full retirement age (FRA) varies depending on the year you were born. Currently, FRA is 66 for those born between 1943-1954, and it gradually increases to age 67 for those born in 1960 or later.
When you file for Social Security benefits, you have the option of claiming your own benefits or spousal benefits. Spousal benefits are based on your spouse’s earnings history, and you can claim up to 50% of your spouse’s benefit amount if you’re at full retirement age. If you claim spousal benefits before full retirement age, your benefit amount will be reduced.
So, can you file for Social Security at 62 and then switch to spousal benefits later? The answer is yes, you can. However, there are some important things you need to know.
First, if you file for Social Security at 62, you’ll be receiving reduced benefits. Your benefit amount will be permanently reduced by a certain percentage for each month that you claim benefits before full retirement age. So, if you claim benefits at age 62, you’ll receive a benefit amount that’s approximately 30% lower than if you waited until full retirement age.
Second, if you switch to spousal benefits later, your spousal benefit amount will be based on your spouse’s benefit amount at their full retirement age. So, if your spouse claims benefits early, their benefit amount will be permanently reduced, and your spousal benefit amount will be reduced accordingly.
Third, you can only switch to spousal benefits if your spouse has already filed for their own benefits. If your spouse hasn’t filed yet, you won’t be able to claim spousal benefits.
Finally, you can only switch to spousal benefits if your spouse’s benefit amount is higher than your own benefit amount. If your own benefit amount is higher, there’s no advantage to switching to spousal benefits.
In conclusion, filing for Social Security at 62 and switching to spousal benefits later is possible, but it’s important to understand the potential consequences. If you file early, your benefit amount will be permanently reduced, and if your spouse files early, your spousal benefit amount will be reduced as well. Make sure you weigh all the pros and cons before making any decisions about when to file for Social Security benefits.
Thanks! I understand it now.
I’m retired at 66 this year. My spouse can collect from my retire and when she reached her 62 years old.can she switch to her own retirement.
This is huge for us. I’ll get $3100 at 67 so her spousal is $1550. She can get $800 at 62. We’re both 60
Read this paragraph. If you were born on Jan. 2, 1954 or later, and you are married, the higher earning spouse may consider delaying claiming their benefits until age 70 to increase the benefit with delayed retirement credits. Keep in mind, this would mean delaying when you can take your own spousal benefits, thus missing out a few years of those payments.
Very confusing. Still don't have a definite answer. The way I read it from the SS web site, lower earning spouse can take their benefits at 62 and then switch to spousal benefits when the other one retires without penalty as long as they are at full retirement age.
My situation is exactly like nonya beeswax. If my wife files for her OWN ss benefit she will receive $708 (reduce benefit). My benefit is 2700 at fra. Once my wife is 67 (her fra) will she be able to claim 1350 spousal benefit or 50% of my benefit if I retire at 65 (2518 / 50% = 1259). Is this correct? I will trying to understand the back and forth comments you had with nonya beeswax.
Some better examples using the math on the dry erase board would help.
2:38 However, your spousal benefit does not depend on when your spouse claims. "The amount of your spousal benefit depends on 1) your spouse’s earnings history and 2) how old you are when you claim your spousal benefits. If you
claim benefits before your full retirement age, your spousal benefits will be permanently reduced, however your spousal benefit does not depend on when your spouse claims" https://www.simplywise.com/blog/guide-to-social-security-spousal-benefits/
but if claim at aged 62, the spousal benefit is 32.5% of your (ex) spouse's PIA, 50% spousal benefit is when claim at aged 67 or FRA full retired age https://www.simplywise.com/blog/guide-to-social-security-spousal-benefits/
Will simplify question I asked previously but has not been answered. If higher earning spouse has filed and receives benefit at or after their FRA, will the younger, lower earning spouse receive a total of 1/2 higher earners PIA whether they file at 62, 63, 65, , etc. ??
I need this hammered in a little more maybe. See if I've got this: Let's say Josh is the breadwinner and he filed at age 66, getting 2000/month. Now let's say Charlotte is only 60 and obviously hasn't filed yet. Will she get a total of 1000/month no matter whether she files at 62, 63, 67 or 70? (Assume her own benefit would be far less than Josh's such that even at 70, her benefit would be less than half of Josh's). If the answer is 'yes', than there is no point for Charlotte to wait beyond age 62. In fact would the couple in total get MORE money if she files at 62 rather than waiting longer?? Thanks
I just found your page today. Interesting. I need to subscribe. Here is a scenario for you: I am divorced after 27 years of marriage. My Social Security will be more than half of my ex-husband’s Social Security. My question is can I take half of his at 62 or 63 (if he has filed) and switch to mine at 65 or later? The fly in the ointment here is that I have a domestic partner though, we haven’t filed the official paperwork for that yet. I am not sure if I should because I don’t want that official partnership to interfere with me collecting my ex-husband’s Social Security if I can do that at 62 or 63. My domestic partner and I will not likely marry And he will not collect Social Security as he did not pay into that through the law enforcement branch that employed him. If it helps, I live in California.
Hmmm…. Thanking you in advance!
Josh, I am still frustrated by contradicting information! Ask Larry at Forbes.Com says if the lower earning spouse files early on his/her own work record, he/she is stuck for life with that lower benefit, does not get a bump to half the FRA of higher earning spouse when that spouse files! Ugh!!
It better to get your survivor benefits at 62 and let yours grow then switch over to yours at FRA and sorry I was think I n g of after a spouse was deceased
It seems to me it could make a big difference. I am the higher earner and will file at FRA but I'm one year younger than my wife who turns 62 next month. My FRA benefit is around the max of $2800 and her reduced personal benefit at 62 will be about $319. If she files now at 62, she will receive her $319 for the next 7 years, at which point I will file and she will be bumped up to $1400, right? If she collects $319 per month for almost 7 years waiting on me to file, that is over $26k that she earned by filing early rather than waiting until I file, correct? If she had waited until her FRA to file she would have missed 6 years and if she waited until I filed, she would have received nothing for those 7 years so that's a pretty big difference. What am I missing here?
This is what I remember from another article in this scenario – let me know if I am wrong on this. Lets say the spousal benefit is $1K/month. Lets also say at her FRA she would get $600/month and at 62 she would get $400/month. Because she claimed her benefit at 62 instead of her FRA, her spousal benefit would also get reduced the $200 to $800/month.
If you file for a spousal benefit at age 62 you will not receive 50% of spouses FRA benefit you will receive 33% of spouses FRA benefit and it increases every year you delay filing the only way you can receive the full 50% of spouses FRA benefit is if you wait till you are your full retirement age to apply for your spousal benefit
My wife is 43 and has been on social security disability since 1997 will she ever be able to switch 2 spousal benefits when i retire at full retirement at 67 if it would b more
Does this apply to a DIVORCED spouse applying for her ex's benefits? She can get early benefits and then switch to his when he applies? Her research shows this is not the case so she is waiting till he applies.