This question has probably been answered at least in part, but it's still confusing. Here's my situation...I will be 65 in November of this year. I started collecting my own social security when I turned 62. My husband is 66 and working full time until September, 2017. He will collect Social Security at that time. My question is, when he collects, will I be able to change over to spousal benefit, or will my benefit remain as is? Thank you so much.

Hi,

You'll keep receiving your own reduced retirement benefit, but you may also become eligible for an excess spousal benefit when your husband starts drawing his benefits. You would only be eligible for an excess spousal benefit if 50% of your husband's full retirement age benefit amount exceeds your own full retirement age benefit amount (i.e. the amount you would have received had you waited until age 66 to apply).

For example, say a person has a full retirement age rate of $500, but starts drawing at age 62. Their benefit amount would be reduced by about 25% to around $375. Then, when she reaches age 66, say her husband becomes entitled to his unreduced benefit amount of $1200. In this example, the wife would be eligible for an excess spousal benefit of $100 (i.e. $1200/2 - $500). That excess $100 would be added to her reduced retirement benefit of $375, making her total benefit $475.

As an alternate strategy, your husband may want to consider filing just for spousal benefits on your record when he reaches age 66, and allow his own benefit grow until age 70. At age 70, his benefit rate would be 32% higher than if he starts it at age 66, and that higher rate would carry over to your widow's benefit if he dies before you. And, you could still file for an excess spousal benefit when he switches to his own account at age 70, assuming half of his full retirement age benefit amount is more than twice as much as yours.

You and your husband may benefit from running the maximization software available on this website. That will give you a full analysis of your filing options so that you can decide the best strategy.

Best, Jerry