I am currently 63 years old and am intending to draw my benefits in January, 2019. My spouse is 65 now and will be 66 in March. If I draw my benefits at 63 1/2 in January 2019 would my survivor benefits be based on my husband's earnings or would they be reduced since I would be taking my ss at 63.5. My husband does not plan on taking social security benefits until 70.

Thanks for your help.

Sue

Hi Sue,

The survivor rate that you could receive on your husband's record would not be reduced if you start drawing your own retirement benefits before full retirement age (FRA). Your widow's rate would be calculated based on your age at the time you become entitled to the widow's benefit. And, if your husband does wait until age 70 to start drawing his benefits and dies at age 70 or later, you would be eligible for his full age 70 rate as a widow since you would already be over FRA by then. You wouldn't get his full rate plus your own, though, just the higher of the two amounts.

Another important fact to be aware of is that since your husband was born prior to January 2 1954, he could potentially file just for spousal benefits only on your record effective with his FRA of 66 and then switch to his own retirement benefits at age 70. His drawing spousal benefits from age 66 to age 70 would not affect either his future retirement benefit rate nor your potential survivor rate.

In order for your husband to be able to draw spousal benefits, however, you must be drawing your retirement benefits. So, the only way he can receive spousal benefits starting at age 66 is if you're drawing your benefits by that time. I don't have enough information to be able to tell you whether or not filing for your benefits early and having your husband file for spousal benefits at FRA would be your best option, though, so before filing you should strongly consider using our software to fully compare all of your options and determine the best overall strategy for you and your husband.

Best, Jerry