I am 65 and have worked enough credit hours to draw my own SS. My benefit will be considerably less than my husband’s who plans on retiring in 5 years at 70. We have two adult children with autism on SSI still at home.
Will it hurt my husband’s SS if I draw SS now?
How will drawing my SS now effect later spousal benefit?
As we are caretakers does that effect my SS?
Thank you

Hi. Taking your own benefits now wouldn't hurt your husband's benefit, but you couldn't be paid spousal benefits at least until your husband starts drawing his benefits. If you start drawing your own benefits prior to full retirement age (FRA), the reduction in your own benefit rate would continue even when you later start drawing spousal benefits.

For example, say Jan starts drawing her benefits this year when she reaches age 65. Jan's primary insurance amount (PIA), which is equal to her full retirement age rate, is $300. However, Jan's reduced age 65 rate is $273. Five years later, Jan's husband starts drawing his benefits, and his PIA is $2000. Jan's spousal rate would be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA, which in this example amounts to $700 (i.e. $2000/2 - $300). That amount would then be paid in addition to Jan's own reduced rate of $273 to give her a combined rate of $973.

The fact that you're caring for your children wouldn't have any effect on either your or your husband's own Social Security retirement benefits, but assuming that your children became disabled prior to age 22 then they should be able to qualify for disabled adult child's (DAC) benefits when either you or your husband start drawing. If your children do qualify for DAC benefits, that could reduce your spousal benefit rate because of the family maximum benefit (FMB) limit that can be paid per month based on a worker's Social Security record. And, if your children do qualify for DAC benefits, those benefits would offset their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments roughly dollar for dollar.

Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) is fully programmed to handle family benefit computations involving spousal, child and DAC benefits, so you may want to strongly consider using the software to analyze all of your various options so that you can determine the best strategy for maximizing benefits for you and your other family members.

Best, Jerry