Can I Take My Social Security and Then Switch to Spousal Benefit?

Social Security is an important source of retirement income for many in the United States. It supports workers and their families in retirement. Understanding the various benefit options available is important for retirement planning.

Understanding Your Own Social Security Benefits

Your own Social Security benefit links to your personal earnings record throughout your working life. The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which represents the monthly benefit you are eligible to receive if you begin claiming benefits at your Full Retirement Age (FRA). Your FRA varies based on your birth year, typically ranging between age 66 and 67. The PIA calculation is based on your highest 35 years of earnings, adjusted for inflation, known as Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME).

Claiming benefits before your FRA, as early as age 62, results in a permanent reduction of your monthly payment. For example, if your FRA is 67 and you claim at 62, your benefit could be reduced by up to 30%. Conversely, delaying the start of your benefits past your FRA, up to age 70, increases your monthly payment through Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs). These credits can increase your benefit by 8% for each full year you delay, for those born in 1943 or later.

You can access personalized estimates of your potential benefits by creating a “my Social Security” account online. This account allows you to review your earnings history and see how different claiming ages might affect your future monthly payments. It is a useful tool for planning your retirement income based on your specific work record.

Understanding Spousal Social Security Benefits

Spousal Social Security benefits are designed to provide financial support based on a spouse’s earnings record, rather than your own. To be eligible, you must be at least 62 years old, and your spouse must be receiving their own Social Security retirement or disability benefits. The marriage must have lasted for at least one year for current spouses.

For divorced individuals, eligibility requires the marriage to have lasted at least 10 years, and you must have been divorced for at least two consecutive years. You must also be unmarried when you apply for benefits. The maximum spousal benefit you can receive is up to 50% of your spouse’s (or ex-spouse’s) Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) at their full retirement age.

Claiming spousal benefits before your own FRA will result in a reduced benefit amount. For instance, if your FRA is 66, claiming spousal benefits at age 62 could reduce them to around 35% of your spouse’s PIA. It is important to note that delaying spousal benefits past your FRA does not result in further increases, unlike delaying your own retirement benefits.

Eligibility for a Restricted Application for Spousal Benefits

The “restricted application” strategy allowed certain individuals to claim only spousal benefits at their Full Retirement Age (FRA). This approach enabled their own Social Security retirement benefit to continue growing through Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs). The primary earner on whose record the spousal benefit was claimed must have already filed for their own benefits for this strategy to be utilized.

This specific option was available only to individuals born on or before January 1, 1954. For those eligible, they could file a restricted application for spousal benefits at their FRA, receiving up to 50% of their spouse’s PIA. This allowed them to receive some income while their own benefit accrued DRCs until age 70. At age 70, the individual could then switch to their own higher benefit. This strategy helped eligible individuals maximize their lifetime Social Security income. However, this specific claiming strategy is no longer available for those born after the January 1, 1954, cutoff date.

Claiming Benefits Under Deemed Filing Rules

For individuals born after January 1, 1954, the “deemed filing” rule significantly changed how Social Security benefits can be claimed. This rule mandates that if you apply for any Social Security retirement or spousal benefit, you are “deemed” to have applied for all benefits for which you are eligible. This means you cannot select to receive only one type of benefit while allowing another to grow independently.

The Social Security Administration will automatically pay you the higher of the benefit amounts for which you qualify, whether it’s your own retirement benefit or a spousal benefit. You cannot choose to take a spousal benefit and let your own retirement benefit continue to accrue Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs). This rule prevents the separate growth of benefits that was possible under the restricted application strategy for older generations.

The implication for the “switch” concept is that if you claim your own benefit, and you are also eligible for a spousal benefit, you will receive the larger of the two amounts. You cannot later “switch” from your own benefit to a spousal benefit to allow your own to grow, as the deemed filing rule prevents this strategy for most current retirees. For example, if your own benefit is $1,000 and your spousal benefit is $1,200, you would receive $1,200, which includes your own $1,000 plus an additional $200 from the spousal benefit.

The Application Process

Applying for Social Security benefits can be completed online, by phone, or in person at a local Social Security Administration (SSA) office. The online application is often considered the most convenient method. Before applying, gather necessary documents and information, including your Social Security number, birth certificate, and bank account information for direct deposit. Depending on your situation, you may also need marriage certificates, divorce papers, or military service records.

Once your application is submitted, the SSA reviews it to determine your eligibility and benefit amount. You will receive notification of the decision, and if approved, your benefits will begin the month after your chosen start date. Apply a few months before you wish to start receiving payments to allow for processing time.