Hi Larry,
I have just taken over the handling of finances for my parents who are currently 90 and 92 years old. I have found that my mother (90) is getting far less than half of the amount that my father receives each month from Social Security. She did take early retirement at age 62, and was told at that time, once my father reached full retirement age and began taking his social security, she could start taking half of his amount (which was greater than her amount) . After my father retired, at beyond full retirement age and started taking his social security, they were told she could not do this since she took early retirement.. She is currently getting $778 per month and my father receives $2159 per month. Is this information correct, and if not, how would we get it rectified and would there be any possibility of retroactive reimbursement? Thanks!--LL

Hi LL. No. Apparently your mother was either misinformed or she misunderstood what she was told. You can't start drawing your own benefits first and then later switch to drawing a spousal benefit instead. And, if a person claims their own Social Security retirement benefits prior to full retirement age (FRA), the resulting reduction for age that's applied to their benefit rate continues even if they later become eligible for spousal benefits.

You can potentially become eligible for an excess spousal benefit after starting your own benefits, but only if your spouse's primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as much as your own PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA). If a person is already drawing their own benefits when they become eligible for spousal benefits, their excess spousal amount is calculated by subtracting their own PIA from 50% of their spouse's PIA. So, if their own PIA is more than 50% of their spouse's PIA, then no spousal benefits are payable.

For example, say Amy filed for her benefits at age 62. Amy's primary insurance amount (PIA), or full retirement age rate, would be $1,000, but Amy's rate is reduced for age to $750. Five years later, Amy's husband, Bill, files for his benefits when he turns age 70. Bill's PIA is $2,000, but with delayed retirement credits his monthly benefit rate is increased to $2,640. However, even though Bill's monthly rate is more than 3 times as much as Amy's rate (i.e. $2640 vs. $750), Amy isn't eligible for any spousal benefits because Bill's PIA isn't more than twice as much as Amy's PIA. If Amy applied for spousal benefits, her unreduced spousal rate would be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA, which in Amy's case is zero (i.e. $2000/2 - $1000).

Best, Jerry