Ask Larry: Will My Wife Get Full Social Security Widow’s Benefits If She Retires Early?

Social Security may be one of your largest assets. What and when you collect will make a huge difference to your lifetime benefits.

Today’s column examines whether filing for early retirement benefits lower later survivor’s benefits, when spousal benefits might be available, how the earnings test can affect spousal benefit amounts, spousal benefits before retirement benefits and retirement benefits before spousal benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, a company that markets Maximize My Social Security, a Social Security benefits calculator referred to in this post.

See more Ask Larry answers here.

Ask Larry about Social Security:

Will My Wife Get Full Social Security Widow’s Benefits If She Retires Early?​​

HI Larry, I was the higher wage earner by about 2 to 1. My wife is now 63 and I just turned 67. We’re thinking about having her file now for her retirement benefits and I would file a restricted application for only my spousal benefits and would not apply for my retirement benefit on my account until I turn 70. If I were to die first, will my wife’s widow’s benefit be the same as my full retirement benefit amount even though she had filed early for her retirement benefit? Thanks, Lionel

Hi Lionel, Yes, widow(er)’s benefits are calculated independently of any retirement or spousal benefits that the recipient previously received. If your wife is at least full retirement age (FRA) when she starts drawing widow’s benefits, her widow’s rate is unreduced even if she was previously drawing reduced retirement or spousal benefits.

For example, say Jane files for reduced retirement benefits at 62 and receives $700 based on her full retirement age rate of $1,000. If Jane’s husband files for his benefits at 70 and receives a benefit rate of $2,000 and then dies after Jane has reached her FRA, Jane would be eligible for a combined benefit rate equal to her husband’s full amount of $2,000. Technically, Jane would continue to be paid her own benefit of $700 plus $1,300 as a widow, but the total would be equal to 100% of her husband’s full rate. Best, Larry

Can My Husband Delay His Social Security And Collect Spousal Off Of Mine?​​

Hi Larry, I just read your book and my head is spinning and am more confused. I reach FRA 66 in Sept to collect $2,488. I plan on filing at FRA. My husband will reach FRA next month and will be able to then collect $2,200. He plans to continue to work. Can he delay his retirement benefit and collect his spousal benefit in the meantime? If yes, approximately how much would he collect? Would it be 50% of my retirement benefit or would it be less? Thanks, Rachael

Hi Rachael, Yes, if you’re drawing your Social Security retirement benefits when your husband reaches 66, he can file for spousal benefits only and allow his own retirement benefit rate to grow until 70. That option is available to your husband because he was born prior to 1/2/1954. And yes, in that event he would receive 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is equal to your full retirement age (FRA) retirement benefit amount, as his spousal amount.

Another possible option would be for your husband to file for his retirement benefits and for you to file just for spousal benefits while letting your benefit rate grow until 70. You and your husband might want to run an expert Social Security benefits calculator, such as Maximize My Social Security or other very precise software, to compare your various options and determine which strategy is best for the two of you. Best, Larry

Can I Draw Spousal Benefits Even Though My Husband Is Still Working?​​

Hi Larry, Am I able to draw spousal benefits even though my husband is still working? We have been legally separated for 16 years. I started taking my retirement benefits when I turned 62, I’ll be 67 in July. He was 64 in May but won’t retire until he’s 66, if then. Also, would divorce affect my spousal benefits? Thanks, Nicole

Hi Nicole, You couldn’t be eligible for spousal benefits at least until your husband starts drawing his benefits, and even then you could only qualify if 50% of your husband’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is equal to his full retirement age (FRA) retirement benefit amount, is more than your own PIA. And, if your husband files for his retirement benefits prior to his full retirement age (FRA), both his benefits and your spousal benefits could be subject to full or partial withholding if he earns more than amount allowed under the Social Security earnings test.

Since you’ve apparently been married to your husband for at least 10 years, if you divorced you could potentially then qualify for divorced spousal benefits effective at the earlier of a) when your husband files for his benefits, or b) 2 years after your divorce is final. Divorced spousal benefits are not subject to withholding due to the worker’s earnings, so you could potentially draw those benefits no matter how much your husband is earning as long as you meet the entitlement requirements. Best, Larry

Can I Postpone Getting My Social Security Until Age 70 But Get Half Of What My Husband Was Receiving Now?​​

Hi Larry, My husband of 40 years passed away two years ago and I am about to turn 66. I was wondering if I could postpone getting my Social Security retirement until I was 70 and receive a survivor’s benefit instead. If I can, would it be half of what my husband was receiving before he died? Thanks, Jo

Hi Jo, I’m sorry for your loss. Actually, in most cases widow(er)’s benefits are paid at the deceased spouse’s full benefit rate, not 50% like spousal benefits on a living spouse’s record. But, yes you could potentially file now for widow’s benefits and switch to your own record at 70 if your own rate is higher than your widow’s rate at that time.

Your best strategy depends on your and your husband’s relative benefit rates and whether or not your husband drew reduced retirement benefit prior to his death. You should probably make an appointment to speak with a Social Security claims representative to discuss your options as soon as possible. And you might also want to look into an expert Social Security benefits calculator as described in other answers to compare your options and determine your best strategy. Best, Larry

Will My Wife Be Able To Increase Her Benefits To Half Of My FRA Amount When I File For My Benefits At 70?

Hi Larry, My )PIA is $2,644 and my wife’s PIA is $917. Our plan is to file for her benefits at her FRA in July and at the same time, I would file a restricted application for just my for spousal benefits. I am planing to continue working and will file for my retirement benefits at 70 in three years and in the meantime, I’d collect my spousal benefits based on her work record. When I file for my benefits at 70, will my wife be able to increase her benefits to 50% of my FRA benefits? Thanks, Mark

Hi Mark, Yes, your wife could file for spousal benefits when you file for benefits on your own record, and her combined benefit rate in the scenario you present would equal 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is equal to your full retirement age (FRA) retirement benefit amount.

For example, using your figures your wife would get her own rate of $917 if she files at her full retirement age (FRA), and then when you file at 70, she would get an additional $405 as an excess spousal benefit to bring her combined rate up to $1,322, or half of your PIA. Your plan doesn’t sound unreasonable on its face, but you and your wife may want to confirm this using an expert Social Security benefits calculator, such as my company’s software or other extremely accurate software, to explore and compare your other options to make sure that you’re choosing the best possible strategy. Best, Larry

To learn more about your Social Security options, visit Economic Security Planning, Inc.