I am 68 FRA and planning to claim SS in January 2020 and continue working. My spouse claimed his very low SS at 62. He is now 65. When can he claim SS switch to spousal? Does he need to wait until I am approved by SSA or can request switch the same time when I claim? How do I decline Medicare B not to be deducted from SS check having health benefits through my employer? Thanks.

Hi,

Your spouse can't switch from drawing his own Social Security retirement benefits to drawing spousal benefits. What he can potentially do is file for an additional excess spousal benefit when you file for your benefits. If your husband was born after January 1 1954 he'll be deemed to have filed for spousal benefits effective with your first month of eligibility for your Social Security (SS) benefits. He will have to file an application for spousal benefits, though, and he can do that as soon as you file for your benefits.

If your husband qualifies for an excess spousal benefit from your record and his entitlement starts prior to his full retirement age (FRA), his spousal rate will be reduced for age. For example, say Jim files for his SS retirement benefits at age 62. Jim's full retirement age rate, or primary insurance amount (PIA), would be $800, but he receives a reduced rate of $600 in return for starting his benefits at 62. Six months before Jim reaches FRA his wife files for her SS benefits. Jim's wife's PIA is $2000, and Jim's unreduced excess spousal benefit is calculated by subtracting his PIA from 50% of his wife's PIA. The result is $200 in Jim's case (i.e. $2000/2 - $800), but that amount is reduced to $191 since he's starting his spousal benefits 6 months before FRA. That reduced excess spousal rate would then be added to Jim's own reduced retirement rate to give him a combined rate of $791 (i.e. $600 + $191).

You and your husband may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully explore and compare your options so that you can choose the best possible strategy for claiming your benefits.

When you file your application for benefits there will be a question on your application asking if you want to apply for Supplementary Medical Insurance (i.e. Part B of Medicare). You'll simply need to answer that question 'No' if you don't want to sign up for Part B of Medicare until you retire.

Best, Jerry