I know that you must be married nine months in Pennsylvania before you are entitled to your spouse's Social Security. My question: is "nine months" considered to be nine 4-week periods from the date of marriage, or is it the date of the marriage, nine months later? For example, I was married on July 21, 2016. Nine four-week periods later is March 30, 2017. In the second scenario, it would be April 21.

It seems like a silly question, but as you can see, in the first case I'd be eligible about three weeks sooner.

My husband & I have been married 27 years, his ss# benefit is larger than mine, we want to apply for the THE SOCIAL SECURITY SPOUSE BENEFIT, which would increase my monthly amount to the same as his, my question is he retired in 2005, he is 74, I retired in 2001 and am 80, is the amount I will receive increased based on the year he retired and is it retroactive or does it start once we have applied? Thank you!

Hi,

Hi , I retired at age 62 I am turning 66 next month , i divorced & then remarried oct of 2016 my husband is 58 when can i start collecting his ss

Hi,

Your husband must be drawing either Social Security retirement or disability benefits in order for you to be potentially eligible for spousal benefits on his record (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/applying6.html).

Best, Jerry

My brother-in-law is 73 and his wife of over 40 years is 71. She is currently getting less than half of her husbands social security based on her social security earnings. Can she still apply for the spousal benefit and either get a) 50% of her husbands social security or b) the difference between her social security and 50% of her husbands social security? If not, then why not?

Hi,

At age 62 the wife (full PIA at 66) starting receiving her worker’s benefit. At age 66 (full PIA age) the husband filed, suspended, and starting receiving spousal benefit on the wife’s earnings record (smaller earnings than husband). In the same month, we suspended the wife’s worker’s benefit. These events occurred before the change in the law in April 2016. Now before either of us turn age 70, can the wife start receiving spousal benefit on the husband’s earnings record and allow the wife’s suspended worker’s benefit to continue to grow at 8% per year?

I am 63 and have not filed for social security benefits. My wife is 68 and is collecting a reduced benefit starting when she was 62. Is she eligible for a spousal benefit based upon my full retirement age now while I am 63?

Thank you.

Hi,

My wife is older than I am by 7 months. She started receiving SS retirement benefits when she was 62. I am now at full retirement age (in 3 months). Her current benefits are way less than my estimated benefits, in fact less than half. Can she now get spousal benefits based on my earnings record? Will there be some reduction because she already has been getting benefits on her own work record?

Hi,

My wife only worked 11 years , started drawing at 62 (9/2012 ) , receives $418 after medicare deduction . My ss is $1829 after medicare deductions ( 11/2012 ) . Can she get spousal benefit ?

Hi,

It sure appears as though she'd be eligible for an excess spousal benefit from your record. Her excess spousal benefit would be calculated by subtracting her full retirement age rate (PIA) from 50% of your full retirement age rate. That excess could then be paid in addition to the reduced retirement rate she currently receives.

I will be 62 in April 2017. My husband is 58. Can I draw spousal benefits if he is still working

Hi,

No, the soonest that you could draw spousal benefits on your husband's record is the month that he starts drawing his benefits.

Best, Jerry

If I am receiving $2000 from SS currently, and my wife begins to receive spousal benefits at age 62 (she is not eligible for her own benefits), how much will she receive? If she starts receiving this at age 62, and then I die, how much will she receive for Survivor benefits?

Hi,

If your wife starts drawing reduced spousal benefits at age 62, she'll get between 65% to 70% of one-half of your full retirement age benefit rate (PIA). So, if your PIA is $2000, she'd get between $650 & $700 per month, depending on her year of birth.