What Are the Most Common Retirement Questions You Receive about Social Security?
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: April 6, 2017
There are two big questions I hear plenty.
- My husband wants to retire at 62 and start taking Social Security. Is that okay?
This typically comes up because husbands are often a few years older than their wives, and figure they want to “get their money’s worth” by taking Social Security as early as possible. I think that can be a bad move. Unless you have oodles of money to live on in retirement, you — as a couple — want to maximize your Social Security payout for the longest surviving spouse. It’s important to understand that when one spouse dies, the other spouse is entitled to just one Social Security payment. So you want the surviving spouse to have the biggest possible benefit. Here’s how: Whichever spouse is the higher earner (and thus eligible for a bigger Social Security benefit) should delay taking Social Security at least until their Full Retirement Age (FRA), which is between age 66 and 67, depending on the year you were born.
Your FRA benefit is 25 to 30 percent higher than the benefit you can get at age 62. Even better is to have the high earner wait all the way until age 70. The benefit if you start then is more than 65 percent higher than the benefit you are entitled to at age 62. While the high-earner should wait as long as possible, the other spouse can start earlier, but I always encourage both spouses to delay as long as possible.
- I am getting divorced and haven’t worked full time. Am I going to be able to get Social Security?
If you were married at least 10 years you will be eligible for Social Security based on your ex-spouse’s earnings record. Your receiving a benefit will have no impact on the benefit your ex is eligible for.
There are a few caveats to understand about how this works. Most important, you can’t make a claim on an ex-spouse’s record if you remarry. (It doesn’t matter if your ex remarried.) You also need to be at least 62 years old. You can learn more about that here.
SSA does not endorse any particular financial advisory product or service.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: full retirement age, retirement benefits, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Suze Orman, Personal Finance Expert
Suze Orman is an award-winning personal finance expert.
Comments
Comments are closed.
Cynthia
When can a person collect SS if their birthday is in June? Are they eligible as of January of the same year?
Thank you,
Cynthia
Vonda V.
Thank you for contacting us Cynthia. The minimum age for Social Security retirement benefits is 62. The amount you receive each month depends on when you start receiving benefits. You can start your retirement benefit at any point from age 62 up until age 70, and your benefit will be higher the longer you delay starting it.
You can work and receive your Social Security retirement benefits at the same time. Some people who retire in mid-year have already earned more than their yearly earnings limit. That is why we have a special rule that applies to earnings for one year, usually the first year of retirement.
For more information, visit our Retirement Planner: Getting Benefits While Working. If you have additional questions, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and talk with one of our representatives.
Laura Z.
I understand Michigan may not honor the common law marriage, but we do have two daughters together and I have always worked, Him on the other hand has had some back issues which led him to file for ssi. i just want to knoe if i may be eligible for benefits uder his name.
Vonda V.
Hello Laura, thank you for your questions.
You can receive benefits on your ex-spouse’s record if:
• You are age 62 or older;
• You were legally married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years;
• You are unmarried;
• Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits and,
• The benefit you are entitled to receive based on your own work is less than the benefit you would receive based on your ex-spouse’s work.
In cases where a common-law marriage may be involved, Social Security follows the state laws. So, check the laws in your state. For more information, please visit our Retirement Planner: If You Are Divorced.
Your unmarried children can receive benefits on their father’s record if:
• They are younger than age 18; or
• Age 18-19 and a full-time student (no higher than grade 12); or
• Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22.
See our factsheet on Benefits for Children for more information.
Laura Z.
my husband just won abig settlement on his disability claim, we were legally married 7 years but together 10 years before we married. Would i be eligible for his benefits?
Kathleen
If you are between 65 and 66 years old can you borrow or get a loan from your Social Security account before you start receiving Social Security payments at age 66? How does this affect your future Social Security payments at age 66 and after?
Vonda V.
Thanks for your question, Kathleen. Social Security does not make loans to claimants or beneficiaries. If you apply for Social Security benefits and you change your mind about when they should start, you may be able to withdraw your Social Security claim and re-apply at a future date. However, if you change your mind 12 months or more after you became entitled to retirement benefits, you cannot withdraw your application. Also, keep in mind that you must repay all the benefits that you and your family received. For more information, go to our web page If You Change Your Mind. We hope this is helpful.
James b.
How much can one make while on ss before they don’t take any money back from my ss
Ray F.
Hello James, you can work while you receive Social Security retirement benefits. However, if you are younger than full retirement age and make more than the yearly earnings limit, your earnings may reduce your benefit amount. (Full retirement age is 66 for people born between 1943 and 1954. Beginning with 1955, two months are added for every birth year until the full retirement age reaches 67 for people born in 1960 or later.)
For complete information, go to “Getting Benefits While Working“. Thanks!
Terry Q.
I am disabled, and 61 can I receive my retirement check and draw off my husbands check?He is in prison for life?
Ray F.
Hello Terry, the earliest age to apply and receive Social Security Retirement Benefits is 62, but if you decide to get benefits before your full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced. You may be able to get spouse’s retirement benefits if you are at least 62 years of age and your spouse is receiving retirement or disability benefits. Please see our Disability Planner for information on this topic. Thanks!
Bernard A.
I was born 01/27/54. Myss#XXXXXXX. Iam presently bed ridden with a stroke while in Nigeria. The stroke set in on 12/15/2012. I can’t walk, my speech is impaired. My SSA application is somewhere with a Michael at the American embassy in London. I have been turned into a beggar here in Nigeria. No meds, no food, no accommodation, nothing. Iam an American citizen & I need help. How can someone look into this urgent destitute case? It will be appreciated. Thank you. Bernard A. Njoku.
Julie S.
If on SSI for disability am I forced to leave SSI and take ex-husband’s retirement at 62. I need the medicaid as I am totally disabled.
Ray F.
Thank you for your question Julie. If you are divorced, but your marriage lasted 10 years or longer, you can receive benefits on your ex-spouse’s record beginning at age 62.
As per SSI’s Reporting Responsibilities, you are to inform us of any benefits you may be eligible for and thus apply for such benefits. Failure to apply could result in suspension or termination of your SSI benefits. However, depending on the benefit amount that you qualify to receive from your ex-husband’s record, you may continue to be eligible to receive SSI benefits.
We hope this information helps.
Pat F.
A friend is collecting his social security benefits at age 59. How is that possible?
Ginger S.
If I already started my benefits at 62 because of my situation at that time. Now I’m going to be 68 yrs old this year and need to get out of this abusive marriage but cannot afford a divorce. If I leave him is there any way I can get a new amount of full age benefits?
Ray F.
We are sorry to hear of your situation, Ginger. If a person begins to receive benefits at age 62 or prior to their full retirement age, their benefits are reduced. The reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits the person may qualify for. If you’re receiving benefits on your own record, you will continue to receive the same amount. Thanks.