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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Arlene
I do not want to draw benefits at this time. But I do wish to register. How can I do this?
R.F.
To learn about Social Security retirement benefits, visit our Retirement Planner. If you have specific questions, call our toll free number for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
Mark
What happens to my wife’s Social Security Benefits, if she worked all her life and then isn’t working for a few years before her Social Security Benefits start.
R.F.
Hi Mark. Generally, we use the highest years of earnings to calculate your monthly benefit amount. The amount of benefits you receive is established at the time you applied for Retirement Benefits. It is based on the amount of your average lifetime earnings and your age at the time you applied. Individuals can create a My Social Security account to review your earnings record and get an estimate of their future benefits. Your wife can can call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. We hope this information helps.
George L.
If my wife took early retirement on her earnings, is she eligible to receive a spouse’s benefit based on my earnings when I start receiving benefits at age 70?
Powell H.
My wife, born in Dec 1952, is about to be 65. She will reach full retirement next year, Dec 2018, at 66. She is eligible now to get her own reduced SS of ~ $680. She is also eligible now to get a reduced 1/2 of my SS of ~$1090. Can she apply now to get her reduced SS benefit, and then next year reapply for mine and be eligible to receive the full 1/2 of my SS?
R.F.
Thank you for contacting us, Powell. Keep in mind that the spouse’s benefits your wife may be eligible for, can be equal to one-half of your full retirement amount, only if she starts receiving those benefits at full retirement age. If a person begins to receive benefits 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. For those individuals born between 1943 and 1954, their full retirement age is 66. See our Retirement Planner: Benefits For Your Spouse for more information.
Your wife may call our toll free telephone number at 1-800-772-1213 for specific questions in regards to her own retirement benefits. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. We hope this helps.
Shauna
My husband is turning 65 in about 3 months. He is not so healthy. If he were tio pass away before he receives his social security bene- fits. How should this effect me at agree 63 1/2
Is there something I should be ding now to guarantee better benefits. Will ss bene fits kick inn. I have not had a job for too long during the 40 yeasts I have been married to him.
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Shauna. If you are the widow of a person who worked long enough under Social Security, you can receive reduced benefits as early as age 60 (age 50 if disabled). Your survivor benefit amount would be based on the earnings of the person who died. The more he paid into Social Security, the higher your benefits would be. The benefits will not be established automatically, you will have to contact us. For more information, please read How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies. We hope this helps.
william g.
just married four years ago, my new wife benefits or moe than mine how or if can get any additional beefits
R.F.
Hi William, if you qualify for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefit as a spouse is higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Please keep in mind that your spouse’s benefit amount can be equal to one-half of your wife’s full retirement amount -only- if you start receiving those benefits at your full retirement age. 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 once they opt to start benefits at age 62 or at any time prior to their full retirement age. To find out if you are eligible for a higher benefit, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and speak to one of our agents. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
Teri R.
I am 7 yrs older than my husband. I plan to retire at age 62 (a couple more yrs for me) My husbands earnings are significantly higher than mine. Will I be able to claim under spouse if he is younger than me? Will my amount change since he is still working?
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Teri. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, your husband must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, when you qualify for Social Security benefits on your own record, we pay that amount first. But if you also qualify for a higher amount as a spouse later on, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information.
VERNE Y.
HI THERE! i RETIRED AT 62 AND STARTED MY BENEFITS WILL MY BENEFITS INCREASE WHEN I REACH 66 YEARS OF AGE?
R.F.
Thank you for your question Verne. When 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.
jerry
i will be turning 65 in November. If I apply for ssi benefits now to begin in November, when will I receive my 1st check? I read somewhere that benefits are calculated based on the previous year’s income. I am currently working full time, but intend to work part time under the income limit to not lose any benefits. I am just concerned about any delay that might occur for a period where i would receive nothing in ssi.
R.F.
Thank you for contacting us Jerry. Your payments are established almost immediately after we process your application. Remember that benefits are paid the month after they are due. So, for instance, if you want your benefits to begin with the month of November, you will receive your first benefit payment in December.
You can still work and receive your Social Security retirement benefits at the same time. However, if you are younger than full retirement age and make more than the yearly earnings limit, this can reduce the number of payments you receive through the year. For 2017 that limit is $16,920. If you apply for your benefits at age 65, and work part-time thereafter you will be considered “retired” only if your monthly earnings are $1,410 or less. If your earnings will be over the limit for the year but you will be retired for part of the year, we have a special rule that applies to earnings for one year.
To learn more, see “How We Deduct Earnings From Benefits” or visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page. 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. We hope this helps!
John
I want to apply for social security when I reach full retirement age. The online application asks when do you want to start receiving benefits. If my birthday is in the middle of the month do I my birthday month or the following month?