Larry hello. My question is this. I have heard that you can draw half of your spouses Social security before you reach full retirement age. Is that true.
And if I am on disability right now and I just turned 62. Can I do that. I was also made to understand that it's only until you reach Full retirement age then you have to choose and most people choose the higher of the two benefit amounts.
Thank you. I cannot tell you how much I admire and appreciate what your doing. Trying to get some straight answers from Social Security
is so difficult. My hats off to you.

Hi. No, that isn't true. Unreduced spousal benefits are calculated at 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount (PIA), but if you start drawing spousal benefits prior to full retirement age (FRA) your rate is reduced for age. Furthermore, if you file for spousal benefits prior to FRA you are deemed to also be filing for your own Social Security benefits at the same time. In that case you can only qualify for spousal benefits if your spousal rate is higher than your own rate. The only people who can file for spousal benefits without also filing for their own benefits are people born prior to January 2 1954, and even they can only do so if they claim spousal benefits at FRA or later.

If you're receiving Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits and if you're age 62 or older you could potentially apply for spousal benefits, but you'll only qualify for spousal benefits if your spouse's PIA is more than twice as much as your own full SSDI rate. You couldn't claim spousal benefits until your spouse starts drawing their Social Security retirement or SSDI benefits, though, and if you qualify for spousal benefits and if you start drawing them prior to FRA your spousal rate would be reduced for age.

Best, Jerry