I filed an online application in September, 2019 to start my own benefit for December, 2019 at FRA. It has been 8 weeks and is still processing. Plan is when I am approved, my husband will file for spousal benefit on my record . His FRA (66) was Feb, 2019. He did not file for his benefit and is still working. How do we make it very clear that he is filing a Restricted Application.? Should we wait for my application approval to file for his spousal? And can we request his spousal to begin Dec , the first month I am eligible for benefit with no reduction.? We want to take advantage of my Dec, 30, 1953 DOB.

And, do I change to a spousal when he changes to his own benefit? One half of his FRA benefit is about 100$ more than my benefit , using current projections. His benefit is a few dollars less that the maximum benefit for 2019

Thank you

Hi,

Your husband could file his application for spousal benefits either while your application is pending or after your claim is processed. It shouldn't make much difference either way, although he would have to apply no later than June 2020 in order to be able to claim December 2019 as his month of election to start benefits. And, yes, since your husband has reached his full retirement age (FRA) he can elect to start his spousal benefits effective with the same month that you start your benefits.

If your husband applies for spousal benefits online there will be a question on his application that says: 'If you are eligible for both retirement benefits and spouse's benefits, do you want to delay receipt of retirement benefits.' Answering that question 'Yes' will restrict your husband's application to spousal benefits only. He could also add a statement in the remarks section of the application saying 'I wish to restrict the scope of this application to spouse's benefits only' in order make his intent doubly clear.

If your husband files by telephone or in person at a Social Security office, he needs to tell the claims representative with whom he speaks that he wants to file a restricted application for spousal benefits only. The representative should then complete his application accordingly, but your husband will want to carefully review his copy of the application to be sure that it contains a statement restricting retirement benefits from the scope of his application.

You won't actually be able to switch to drawing spousal benefits when your husband files for his own Social Security retirement benefits, but what you can then do is file for an additional excess spousal benefit. Your excess spousal benefit would be calculated by subtracting your primary insurance amount (PIA) from 50% of your husband's PIA. A person's PIA is equal to the amount of their Social Security retirement benefit if they start drawing at FRA. And, since you will be drawing your Social Security retirement benefits starting at FRA, if you later qualify for an additional excess spousal benefit your combined benefit rate will be equal to 50% of your husband's PIA.

Best, Jerry