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.
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Tags: full retirement age, retirement benefits, Social Security benefits
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Suze Orman, Personal Finance Expert
Suze Orman is an award-winning personal finance expert.
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Howard
I am drawing social security now. I am working part time and paying into social security. Will my social security payments be recalculated because I am working part time and still paying social security?
R.F.
Great question, Howard. Each year, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may increase their monthly benefits.
When you apply for retirement benefits, we base your benefit payment on your highest 35 years of earnings and your age when you start receiving benefits. If your earnings for the prior year are higher than one of the years we used to compute your retirement benefit, we will recalculate your benefit amount.
If an increase is due, a new monthly benefit amount is established on your record automatically. See “Getting Benefits While Working” for more information. Thanks!
Kara S.
I have another small pension, how will this effect my SSI benefit?
Lynn R.
I’ll be 62 next year my husband will 64. Can I get his SS and mine?
V.V.
Hi Lynn, thank you for the question. If you qualify for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit.
See our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on eligibility for spouse’s and retirement benefits.
Martial
IIAABA notice that all the years I worked and I get less then my sister she only worked less then 10 years? I notice on my statement that for 2 years my ex husband put me with 0 income? I did worked as a realtor at that time and I made over 10,000 every year?
V.V.
Hi there, thank you for the question. See our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to correct your earnings record.
Nancy H.
My husband(81) was honorably discharged from the Army National Guard in NC in 1963 and has not received any benefits. Is he entitled to any?
Thomas B.
I will retire February 11,2019 I will be 66 years old. When will I receive first SS check?
V.V.
Hi Thomas, thank you for your question. Social Security benefits are paid the month after they are due. So, for instance, if your benefits begin with the month of February, you will receive your first benefit payment in March. The exact payment date is determined by your date of birth. For future pay days, you may find the Schedule of Social Security Payments calendars useful.
Keep in mind that you can apply four months before you want your benefits to start. When you’re ready to apply for retirement benefits, use our online retirement application, the quickest, easiest, and most convenient way to apply.
Also, the year you turn full retirement age, the earnings limit increases. For example, for individuals turning full retirement age (66) in 2018, the earnings limit is $45,360 but we only count earnings before the month they reach full retirement age. Beginning with the month they reach full retirement age, earnings no longer reduce their benefits, no matter how much they earn. Visit our Retirement Planner: Getting Benefits While Working and our Retirement Earnings Test Calculator. Hope this helps!
Nancy B.
Hello. By percentage, how much does social security increase per year after 62? I beleive there is a chart that gives this information. The date of birth is April 1958.
R.F.
Hello Nancy, if a worker begins receiving benefits before his/her full retirement age, the worker will receive a reduced benefit. A worker can choose to retire as early as age 62, but doing so may result in a reduction of as much as 30 percent.
In the case of early retirement, a benefit is reduced 5/9 of one percent for each month before full retirement age, up to 36 months. If the number of months exceeds 36, then the benefit is further reduced 5/12 of one percent per month.
To compute the effect of early or delayed retirement, click here!
Vicki ..
CAn I receive part of my husband social security. We are 66 and I am not drawing ssi yet.
V.V.
Hi Vicki, thank you for your question. You may be able to get spouse’s benefits but, under existing law, if you are eligible for benefits both as a retired worker and as a spouse, you must apply for both benefits and you’ll receive the higher of the two benefits. This requirement is called “deemed filing” because when you apply for one benefit you are “deemed” to have also applied for the other.
However, if you turn 62 before January 2, 2016, deemed filing rules will not apply if you wait to file at your full retirement age or later. This means that you may file for either your spouse’s benefit or your retirement benefit without being required or “deemed” to file for the other. See our Deemed Filing For Retirement And Spouse’s Benefits FAQs web page for details.
Roger
I have been retired for 5 years & am going back to work. I am 68. Will I keep getting my SS benefits?
V.V.
Hi Roger, thank you for the question. When you reach full retirement age, your earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn.
Also, as long as you continue to work and receive benefits, we will check your record every year to see whether the additional earnings will increase your monthly benefit. If there is an increase, we will send you a letter telling you of your new benefit amount.
For more details, visit our Getting Benefits While Working web page.
Patricia H.
I’m divorced and was married 14 years. I’m 62 and he’s 63. He retired from Delta Airlines. He’s drawing a pension and social security benefits. Can the ex wife draw on his pension? I worked the first 5 years of our marriage and almost died in an auto accident. The thoracic aorta in my heart was torn and aneurysms. It was about to explode. If Jesus hadn’t literally held my heart in His hands for three days I would not be here! Needless to say it took years to get over! So I couldn’t work and began raising my grandchildren until they started to school. Between the year 2001 and 2015 when we divorced I had 9 surgeries several very serious especially my heart which almost cost me my life. I draw SSI $750. I can now draw on his social security benefits up to $800 but is there a way to draw on his pension too? He left me/deserted me with no income or place to live. I’m just wondering if there’s any way to draw more so I can afford to live! Please help me understand! Thank you so much!
Patricia Henderson.
P.S. I greatly appreciate it and all the work you do for people like me to be able to understand the law. Also if you could get back to me ASAP I would appreciate it more! Time is a huge factor here!
R.F.
Hello Patricia. We can only provide information concerning Social Security programs and benefits.
According to current guidelines, individuals receiving benefits under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, who are insured and qualified on their own record for their own retirement benefit, or are potentially eligible for any or other Social Security benefits on their own record and/or the records of others (e.g., spouse’s/divorced spouse or widow’s benefits), are required to apply at age 62 or as soon as they become eligible for those benefits.
Failure to apply for additional benefits can result in suspension or termination of their SSI benefits.
To apply or to make an appointment with your local Social Security office, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!