My husband is at full retirement age and could receive $2600 a month. I am 6 months from full retirement age and could receive $1500 per month if I file for benefits now. If my husband suspends his benefits until 70 and claims spousal benefits, what happens if he dies before 70? Will I be able to claim on his larger deferred account? Or have I lost my chance to claim spousal benefits on his account?

Hi,

First off, your husband should NOT file for and suspend his own retirement benefits. That would preclude him from being able to receive spousal benefits on your record (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/suspendfaq.html).

Filing for your own benefits would not preclude you from later receiving widow's benefits, but since your full retirement age rate (PIA) is apparently more than half of your husband's PIA it would almost certainly make you ineligible for any spousal benefits while your husband is still living.

If you file for your retirement benefits and your husband files for spousal benefits only on your record and he then dies before age 70, you could claim a widow's benefit equal to the rate that he would have been due on his own account if he had filed effective with the month of his death. You wouldn't receive both that rate and your own benefit rate, though, just the higher of the two.

Filing for your benefits so that your husband can receive spousal benefits may be a good plan, but you and your husband may want to strongly consider using our maximization software to explore and compare your other options in order to make sure that you're choosing the best possible strategy.

Best, Jerry