If I have enough work credits for s s can I draw on my spouse s s instead of my own?

Hi,

Dear Larry,
Below is a summary of my situation:
- I will reach full retirement age on October 1 (66 years old)
- I am still working as a teacher and for this reason did not contribute to social security
- I am eligible for spouse’s benefit and I want to determine the best date to start this benefit

I am going to turn 66 in Sept.2017. My husband turned 69 in July 2017. He started taking his Social Security at age 66 in July 2014. I am trying to decide if I should 1.take my own Soc. Sec. in Sept.2017, my "full retirement age", 2. take one-half my husband's benefit when I turn 66 in Sept. and wait to take my own till I'm 70 , or 3. just wait till I'm 70 to take my own soc. sec.. I spoke with Soc. Sec. and was told all 3 three are options for me. To me, #3 makes no sense so I'm really deciding between #1. and #2. My husband gets about $2350/month.

Hi!! My husband will be 66 and considering taking social security this August. I am 48- and will have my own benefit when I retire- but if I retire early do I have access to any social security from my husband's benefit? Any advice you have? Thanks so much!

Hi,

Married for 24 years to my husband. He abandoned us. I divorced him in a newspaper, later to find out he went on Social Security Disability in 2006. He died in 2/2009. I am 62 now and have been collecting a small pension from his Ironworkers local 1 since 2005. I needed it to make ends meet. I have no pension with my job. I am petrified I won't be able to keep pension and eventually collect SSI. He had more paid into SS than I. I will be out of a job when my boss retires in 3 yrs. I will only receive 1200 a month on my SS benefits at age 66. I don't know what my options are.

My husband reached FRA on July 2017. He is employed F/T and plans to continue to work as long as possible. Is there a drawback for collecting social security and continue to work? His current benefits are $2018 and if he continues to work till age 70 they will be $2,800. Would collecting now and continuing to work lock him into the lower benefits ($2018). Many thanks.

Hi,

My husband [Mar 1951 - age 66] wants to retire about one month after he receives his first ss check. He is going to apply any day now. He has not applied yet, but it seems there is so much information out there, it is complicated. At age 58, I [spouse] have a ways to go and my income is very small. He cannot tolerate his job much longer as the management at his job has changed and it has become unbearable so waiting till age 70 is not an option. I am not sure he realizes the actual cut in finances we will encounter.

I am 62 years old (born in 1955) and plan to retire next year at age 63. I have been working for 40+ years, married for 19 years and divorced for 8 years, not remarried. I would like to delay using my Social Security benefits until after age 67. Can I access my ex-husband's Social Security benefits and then switch at age 67 without affecting my own Social Security payments later? My Social Security is higher than half of my ex-husband's.

I am 62 currently on SSDI, my wife will turn 62 next year, she has her own work record but is much lower than mine. What will happen if she files at 62.

Hi,

Whenever your wife files, she'll be deemed to be filing for both spousal benefits and her own retirement benefits, and she'll basically only receive the higher of the 2 rates. And, if she files at age 62 her benefit rate will be reduced for age by somewhere between roughly 27-32%.

Larry, My Wife will be FRA in December 2017, I will be FRA in April 2018. My WIfe's SS at FRA is $950/mo. Mine at FRA is $2700. Based on your columns, I think she can file for SS in Dec and get $950/mo. Then, in April 2018, I can file and get $2700/mo. ALSO, since the ESB is (2700 / 2) = 1350 minus her 950 = $400. She can file for ESB and get and ADDITIONAL $400 or $1350 per month starting in April 2018 WITHOUT me losing any of my $2700 / mo. benefit. Am I understanding ESB correctly?

Lee

Hi Lee,