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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Bob E.
After my death can my wife elect to receive my SS payment in lieu of her SS payment?
V.V.
Hi Kevin, thank you for your question. Your wife’s survivor amount is based on your earnings. The more you paid into Social Security, the higher her benefit will be. If you are already receiving reduced benefits when you die, survivors benefits are based on that amount.
Widows benefit are payable as early as age 60 (for a reduced benefit) or a full widows benefit at full retirement age or older.
If your wife is receiving retirement benefits on her own record, she can only apply for benefits as a widow if her retirement benefit amount is less than the benefits she would receive as a survivor.
Use our Survivors Planner to look at how your family members are protected if you die.
Tim
If a person retires at age 62 and collects a SS payment can he or she reapply at age 67 for the higher amount?
R.F.
Hello Tim. 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. You cannot re-apply for a higher benefit. Thanks!
Denise
My husband is 8 years younger than me. Will I have a reduced pension. And when can I retire?
dan i.
what form do I need to increase my federal tax deduction
V.V.
Thank you for your question, Dan. You can download the form or call the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-3676 and ask for Form W-4V. When you complete the form, you can choose to have 7, 10, 12, or 22 percent of your monthly benefit withheld for taxes. Go to our Benefits Planner: Withholding Income Tax From Your Social Security Benefits for more information.
Hildann L.
How long does it take to receive your first check when you apply for social security?
V.V.
Hi Hildann, thank you for your question. It’s hard to say without knowing what type of Social Security benefit you applied for. All Social Security benefits are paid a month behind. The exact payment date is determined by your birthday. For future pay dates, you may find our Schedule of Social Security Payments useful.
Keep in mind that you can also check the status of your application online in your my Social Security account.
Carolyn
I draw benefits less than half of that of my spouse of 50 years. If I apply for spouse benefits, do I continue to draw my benefits plus half of his benefit amount?
V.V.
Carolyn, thank you for your question. Your benefit as a spouse can be equal to one-half of your husband’s full retirement amount. 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. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information.
Lucinda B.
I will be 62 in 2019 and I am on disability will l get more money or Medicare before I turn 65
V.V.
Hi Lucinda. Social Security disability benefits automatically change to retirement benefits when disability beneficiaries become full retirement age. The law does not allow a person to receive both retirement and disability benefits on one earnings record at the same time.
In addition, Social Security will automatically enroll you in Medicare after you get disability benefits for two years.
Gary Y.
My wife and I are receiving SS. I started first. She filed 2 years later. She was receiving SS Disability prior and when she filed, she received 2 checks. One was based on her working life and the other was for the disability. My question is, I have been told that she should have filed against my SS and would have received 1/2 of my benefit, which would have been a little more. Is that correct? Thanks
V.V.
Hi Gary, thank you for your question. If your wife is receiving Social Security benefits on her own record, we pay that amount first. But, if she also qualifies for a higher amount on your record as a spouse, she may be able to get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information.
Your wife can inquire about additional spouses benefits by calling our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Harriet V.
Am I able to change the date I receive my SS check? I don’t receive my check until the second Wednesday of the month. This month it is the 14th. I have bills due the first part of the month that I’m unable to pay.
Which that causes late fees or over draft fees. I really need to receive my check the first Wednesday of the month. I did at one time receive at that time.
Monte A.
Does working part time reduce my future social security checks, sine the part time pay is approximately 15% of my active working years pay? Averaged $120,000 last, t ten years working and now make $18,000 working part time. Current age 69.
R.F.
Hello Monte. 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.
Our Retirement Estimator gives estimates of monthly Social Security benefits based on your actual Social Security earnings record.
We have a variety of calculators to help you plan for the future. Which calculator you choose depends on what you want to do.
Also, you can create a my Social Security account online. With your personal my Social Security account, you can verify your earnings, get your Social Security Statement, and much more.
Happy planning!