Larry,

Just following up on an earlier question. Online response is fine; no need to email me directly.

I filed online this morning for my own SS benefits. I turn 68 in March. Having read your book in some depth, I answered “No” to the question “If eligible for both retirement and spouses’ benefits, delay receipt of retirement benefits.” I also requested benefits to start in April, 2020, and also added Remarks to that effect, and as recommended in your book I also added a statement that I was applying for retirement benefits and did not want any retroactive benefits.

This afternoon, we started an online application for my wife, who just turned 66 and who has considerably less earnings than myself. She is seeking spousal benefits based on my SS benefits. However, in doing her online application, it never asked the question “If eligible for both retirement and spouses’ benefits, delay receipt of retirement benefits?” Went back through the application (not yet submitted) several times, and that question just never appears. At your suggestion, we called SS and asked why this was. Answers we received were not definitive, but we are being led to believe that my wife’s application didn’t about spousal benefits because I haven’t started receiving my benefit yet.

That response makes no sense to me, since the question was indeed asked in my own application, even though my wife had not yet filed. So why would my my wife’s application not include this question? We are mystified by this.

At this point, we have peppered the Remarks section with language that she is requesting spousal benefits, but SS is saying we should wait until after I start receiving my benefit, and THEN file her application, but do so in person at an SS office. Does this make sense to you? I was sure from your book that husband and wife could file at the same time. Did I misunderstand?

Many thanks!

Hi,

I'm not that familiar with the actual mechanics of Social Security's online application process, and it's impossible to research the subject because you can't access an online application unless you actually intend to file for benefits. Therefore, I can't explain why the question about restricting the application's scope to exclude retirement benefits doesn't appear on your wife's application.

You don't mention your wife's date of birth, but she could only restrict the scope of her application to just spousal benefits and not her own retirement benefits if she was born prior to January 2 1954 (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/deemedfaq.html). I'm merely speculating, but maybe Social Security's online applications exclude the question about restricting the application's scope if the person filing was born after January 1 1954. If so, and if your wife was born after January 1 1954, then that likely would explain the missing question.

But, if your wife was born prior to January 2 1954 and wants to restrict the scope of her application to spousal benefits only, it should still work if she enters a remark on her application such as 'I wish to restrict the scope of this application to spousal benefits only.' The data entered on submitted online applications is reviewed by a Social Security claims representative, so that remark should make your wife's intentions clear. If your wife is uncomfortable doing that, she could always make an appointment to file her application either by phone or in person at a Social Security office.

A husband and wife are allowed to apply at the same time, but the applications must then be coordinated by Social Security if one spouse is filing for spousal benefits on the other's record. As long as your application shows up in Social Security's system, though, Social Security should be able to properly associate your wife's application for spousal benefits. She doesn't need to wait until you actually start receiving your benefits to apply.

Best, Jerry