When should I apply for 50% spousal benefits. I am older than my husband and I will be full retirement age 2023 and plan to draw my Social Security benefits at that time. My husband will reach full retirement age in 2026 and plans to draw benefits at that time. His estimated benefit will be more than double what my estimated benefit will be. My understanding is if I draw my benefits early, then I would not be able to receive the full 50% spousal benefit. Is there a certain time period I need to notify Social Security that I want to draw the 50% spousal benefit? Also, is my understanding correct in that should he die before I do, I would receive 100% of his benefit amount.

Hi. You can't qualify for spousal benefits at least until your husband starts drawing his benefits. You don't need to tell Social Security that you want to claim spousal benefits until you actually apply for them, and you can't do that until your husband applies for his benefits. And, yes, if you're at least full retirement age (FRA) at the time of your husband's death then you could be eligible for 100% of his full benefit rate as a widow. You wouldn't get your husband's full amount and your own full amount, though, just the higher of the two rates.

Your understanding is correct that if you start drawing your own benefits prior to your FRA you wouldn't be eligible for a full 50% of your husband's primary insurance amount (PIA) when you start drawing spousal benefits. Any reduction for age that applies to your own benefit rate would continue for as long as both you and your husband are living, even if you later become eligible for spousal benefits.

For example, say Amy files for her Social Security retirement benefits at age 65. Amy's FRA is 66 1/2, and her PIA, or full retirement age rate, is $800. However, since Amy is starting her benefits early her rate is reduced for age to $720. Four year later, Amy's husband applies for his benefits. Amy's husband's PIA is $2000, so Amy's unreduced excess spousal rate is calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA. In Amy's case, that amounts to $200 (i.e. $2000/2 - $800). That amount is then paid in addition to Amy's own reduced rate of $720 to give her a combined rate of $920 (i.e. $720 + $200).

You and your husband may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze all of your options so that you can determine the best overall strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry