Social Security spousal benefits are some of the most generous benefits you’ll receive in retirement. If you understand these rules it could make a BIG difference in the amount of benefits you receive.
At face value, spousal benefits look simple and easy to understand. But once you dig in, there are lots of nuances that can lead someone to getting a smaller benefit than they are entitled to receive. In this video I want to break this topic down into three sections. I’ll discuss what a spousal benefit actually is, what it takes to qualify for spousal benefits and then I’ll cover how to calculate spousal benefits. Fair warning…this may be a longer video than most of the videos that I publish. But there’s no fluff here. You need to understand everything in this video. You don’t have to do it all at one time though.
You can watch this video in segments or come back and revisit specific areas as needed.
2:26 What is a spousal benefit?
4:55 What it takes to qualify for spousal benefits
7:30 How to calculate the spousal benefit the right way
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See Disclosures Below
⭐⚠️⭐Please read this⭐⚠️⭐
I am an actual practicing financial planner, but I’m not YOUR financial planner. Don’t take what I say as specific advice for your situation. Please consult with your own tax, legal and financial advisors.
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⚠️I am not an attorney or SSDI advocate. Furthermore, since I don’t really know you, I can’t give you advice. Please don’t take this video as specific advice for your specific situation. Consult your own tax, legal and financial advisors.
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Is the spousal benefit rounded down to the dollar?
Higher PIA (rounded down to dime) divided by 2 minus lower PIA (rounded down to dime) = spousal rounded down to dollar???
So, if my FRA keeps going up and my older ex-spouse files for benefits, do they use my projected FRA amount and what happens when it changes? Do they get a raise?
I've just retired at 65, my wife is on disability and 56, when can she begin to take spousal benefits. Her SSDI is pretty minimal.
When is your spouse eligible to file her Spousal Benefit?
What age to receive a Spousal Benefit.
Thank you for this explanation. A few questions: I am divorced and was the higher earning spouse. Based on your example of $2000 full benefits amount, if my ex-spouse receives $1000 monthly, does that come out of what I would see (i.e. would my monthly then drop to $1000?)?
Second question: What if I am remarried (meeting the 12 mo criteria)? What happens then?
Crazy than an ex spouse is entitled to this money. What about the current spouse? When an ex gets 1/2 the pension, half the assets etc WHY get this too? Makes no sense
Your complete guide to Social Security spousal benefits….didn't even touch on the situation that I have with my wife. I'm 60 and my wife is 34 and our daughter is 4. I believe my wife will be eligible for what are called "child in care benefits" because my wife will be caring for our minor child when I claim my social security benefits at age 62.
There probably aren't a lot of retires like myself with minor children of their own in the home…..but I have known older couples that have adopted their grand children and I think doing a video to raise awareness to this benefit would be helpful.
No it's not,Devin I draw a spousal benefit check off my husband,and our 36,year old sondraws same amount check.social security told me a spousal benefit check is all I'd ever draw.its $295.00 a mnth.thats why I'm a 62 year old female.seriously trying to go back out in publicwork so tell me what else I can do !.
Could it be because our oldest son draws a check to off his dad,my husband, sons check same as mine.$295.00 a mnth.is reason my spousal benefit check isn't more???
Been watching video, but still not clear. I'm 66. I can claim full benefit at 66 4mos. I'm waiting for 70. My wife will be 56 at that time. She is a foreigner & has no SS history. Can I get 50% more at that time?
Hey Devin my name is Gail I tried to get my ex-husband's spousal benefits I have never worked myself I was busy taking care of the kids and raising them but anyway here's the case my husband now passed away in January from covet and I received survivors benefits from him and my ex-husband receives more money from his retirement
Benefits
i will be 65 in August my ex-husbandl is now he's now 70 years old I am trying to realize how much would my benefits be considering that he is receiving 22 to 2,300 they told me I can't draw from him until I'm 65 because that's my full retirement age because I was born in 1957 and he was born in 1952. But if I was born in 1954 I could draw on his. Can you elaborate on this please I mean somebody's got to know something I talked to social security and I don't believe what they're telling me. HELP
Very interesting.
As usual, Mr. Carroll videos are very informative and and eye opener for the hard working people.
Devin: I just reached my FRA, Can my wife(62) take spouse benefits and then when she teach 70, switch to her own earnings?
Thanks covid hit my wife and me she passed away I'm getting spouce benefits but I can no longer work a full time job pulmonary and major fatigue but the is not a provision for covid victims in ssi so I'm forced to live on 762 a month terrible level of income any information about covid victims
I'm turning 62 in 2 years an 9 months THANKS FOR THESE VIDEOS !!!!
I believe this also can be done at age 70 and 6mo.
My second wife passed away and I turned 60 last year am I getting the right amount of $594 that’s with the cola $34 but also I have a first wife that passed away I was too young but married for 14 yrs can I collect widower benefits also from her and she had a trust fund too and getting income every month while going to college when she was alive it was taxed I’m in Tennessee please help me?
Very informative but was hoping you would explain more about how it works for divorced spouses—especially ones that are older than their ex-spouses.
My wife started SS at 62 and collects $800.00. I will start at in a few years from now at 66 8mo. and collect $3k When i start will my wife be entitled to half mine if its higher?
superb like it very much as you stick to the talk unlike others
I!m a young widow at 35 so when im 60 is it all retro active
Thank you
Can I file for my own ss benefits at 62 and then file for spousal benefits at 67 and still get the amount at that time that I would have gotten if I had waited to file at 67?
I am 19 years older than my husband. He is the higher earner. Can i draw off of him at my full retirement age or just myself
I have a question I am 60 my husband will be 65 if he applies for his Social Security now and get his regular benefits does he automatically get spousal benefits from me when I retire or does he have to reapply or apply for benefits from mine
I am interested in learning about spousal death benefits. I was in the private sector for 25 years then went into teaching and will be affected by WEP and GPO. Am I entitled to receive benefits while I am still teaching?
Oh and myself and our oldest son we both draw $295.00 check off husband who is on social security disiabilty check.
Hey Devin social security told me because I don't have the 40, work credits I can get either disibility,or social security.i already draw a spousal benefit check plus social security says also I dont qualify for any insurance. Please help me.
They can cheat me out my money if that makes them happy.BUT YOU WILL NOT TAKE AWAY MY HUSBAND'S NAME FROM ME! HE DIED IM MY ARMS AT HOME LOOKING IN MY EYES.AND TOOK HIS LAST BREATH.AND YOU WILL NOT TAKE MY NAME AWAY FROM ME. MRS.KAREN S. PETTIFORD.TILL I DIE.OK.
What if he died before he retired.but was on SSDI.AND GETING HIS STATE CHECK ALSO.?
Can i still continue to work even I am claiming spousal benefit?
Following Devins advice here my wifes check went from $228 to $791. We took it a year before she hit her FRA.
Best explanation I have seen on this complicated subject.
What if your husband passed away
1spouse is eligible at 66.2 for 100% eligibility with a lower earning, but the other spouse 62 is not eligible for 4+ years and has a higher earning. How does that play out. Does the elegance spouse wait to file till the higher earning spouse is ready to file? Or will the 1 spouse 66.2 file and receive the portion of the working spouse as of today earnings? Or will the eligible spouse get a raise after the other spouse files at 67.
My wife took her ss at 62 and Im waiting until 70, can she apply for spousal benefits at my full retirement age of 66.5 or just when I apply at 70, thanks you
One area nobody covers are Marital Separation Agreements, which many couples are held in for many years due to health insurance. Please cover couples held in MSA’s unable to get divorced!
You kind sir are so very helpful in this process. Thank you so very much!
Can I collect Social Security Benefit and Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
not really generous. If you receive SSI as well as SSA, SSI will deduct any Spousal Benefit increase from the SSI amount you receive. So you end up receiving the same amount you were receiving before the Spousal Benefit. Smart ehhh?
I have a question. I was on ssdi since 2010 pre pandemic somehow I missed an appointment to recertify so my benefits were suspended was told I'd recieve a new appointment in the mail it never came its been 3 years now and now they are telling me I need to reapply all over again. However I haven't worked in the last 10 years so now I won't qualify for ssdi can I do something to get my benefits back the way they were also for the past 3 years my dependents benefits never stopped just mine.
Extremely informative presentation on spousal SS benefits. Probably the best presentation that I've seen. I'm now a subscriber.
What if you had two husband's who died. The first was 18 years of marriage and the second was 22 years of marriage. The most recent husband's social security is lower than the first husband's. Can she file for the first husband's social security instead of the most recent husband? There was no divorce with the first husband because he died.
If you don't have your ex-spouse ss#, what documentation do I need?