I’m 58 And My Husband Is 64. Can I Collect Spousal Social Security Now And Switch To My Benefits At 67? Understanding Your Options For Retirement As A Couple

As retirement approaches, many couples grapple with a crucial financial decision: when to start collecting Social Security benefits. Consider the hypothetical case of Jane and John, who are facing this dilemma.

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Meet Jane And John

Jane is 58 years old, and her husband John is 64. They’ve worked hard throughout their lives and are looking forward to a well-deserved retirement. Their retirement planning is intertwined with the question of when to tap into their Social Security benefits.

John decided to start receiving his Social Security benefits at age 62, a decision that many people contemplate. Now, at 64, he’s pondering the implications of his early retirement on their financial future.

Jane, on the other hand, is considering her options. Should she commence her own Social Security benefits immediately, or would it be more advantageous to wait until her full retirement age (FRA) of 67? Jane is also interested in exploring collecting spousal benefits from John now and switching to her benefits later.

Understanding The Rules

To address Jane and John’s situation, it’s essential to grasp the rules governing Social Security benefits. The strategy of file and suspend, which allowed one spouse to collect spousal benefits and switch to their benefits later, has been eliminated since the enactment of The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.

If you are eligible for both personal and spousal benefits, you must apply for both simultaneously, a process referred to as deemed filing. This means that if Jane decides to apply for either spousal or personal benefits, she will automatically apply for both, and the Social Security Administration (SSA) will provide a combination of these benefits, capped at the higher of the two amounts.

Spousal Benefits And Timing

For spousal benefits, Jane can receive up to 50% of John’s primary insurance amount (PIA), which represents the full benefit he is entitled to at his FRA. The timing of John’s retirement does not affect the…