Hello,
I will turn 62 in September 2017 and my husband will turn 70 in February 2018.
He is still working and planning to work and also not claiming his retirement benefits yet.
I am unemployed and probably won't go back into the workplace, but have earned enough credits to qualify for retirement benefits.
My husband SS benefits will be much higher than mine:
-His at 70 would be about $2.400
-Mine at 62 would be about $840 and at 66+2mo would be about $1.130
If I file for reduced retirement benefit on my own record as soon I'm eligible this year Sep.30 and my husband will file next year Feb.20, am I eligible for additional spousal benefits when he claims his own?
For example, if I file at 62 - Sept.2017 for my benefit, my payment would be about $840
Then my husband files at 70 - Feb.2018 for his benefit, his payment would be about $2.400
In this case how much will be a combined rate of my new benefit?
or perhaps We got everything wrong and should approach it differently? soooo confusing...
Any suggestions, opinions are welcome.
Thank you.

Hi,

In order for you to eventually be eligible for spousal benefits, 50% of your husband's full retirement age benefit rate (PIA) would have to be higher than your own PIA. Your husband's age 70 rate would be 32% more than his PIA, so if his age 70 rate is $2,400, that means his PIA is roughly $1,818 (i.e. $2,400/1.32). And since you say your full retirement age rate (PIA) is around $1,130, it doesn't sound like you would ever qualify for spousal benefits. However, if you are widowed you could potentially be eligible for the higher of your own benefit rate or up to 100% of your husband's benefit rate inclusive of the delayed retirement credits he will earn by waiting until age 70 to file.

So, it sounds like you will only be able to receive retirement benefits on your own record for the time being. You could start drawing your benefits as early as age 62 or as late as age 70, and your benefit rate would be determined accordingly. If your age 62 rate is $840, your rate if you waited until age 70 start drawing would be around $1,475. So your rate could fall anywhere within that range depending on when you decide to file.

I should point out, though, if you do decide to file for your benefits any time before your husband reaches age 70, he should file for spousal benefits on your record. He can then file separately for his own benefits effective at age 70. You may want to strongly consider using the maximization software available on this website in order to compare all of your options and determine your best overall strategy.

Best, Jerry