topic Re: SSA Did you know that---- in Community Chat

SSA Did you know that----

Kookielady — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 19:32:06 GMT

If you marry a younger man and don't have enough credits in your SS Account you CANNOT receive Social Security until your younger husband does?

This is my situation right now-there are 11 years between us and I am the older one. I worked for the state and didn't contribute to the account. Also I had taken tiny pension money out at the time.

My first husband was five years older than I so I didn't mind at the time.

At this point I cannot collect until I am 73 IF my husband collects at 62 and when you do that your money is less than if you wait till later.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

croemer — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 19:33:17 GMT

I had never thought about that fact... but very interesting information.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

brii — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 19:33:53 GMT

I guess it makes sense...

Re: SSA Did you know that----

Qwackertoo — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 19:48:48 GMT

Interesting. My husband is 7 years younger than me. But I've paid in enough quarters on my own.

Besides, we won't be relying upon SS . . . anything we get will strictly be "play money". We live well below our means. Always have. Probably always will. As the same with our parents. And their parents. Raised to save, save & save some more. But I spend plenty too, just within reason for US.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

Lynneuk — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 19:48:56 GMT

Were you married to your first husband for longer than 10 years? If so, can you collect on his.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

151949 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 19:51:04 GMT

On 1/21/2014 Lynneuk said:
Were you married to your first husband for longer than 10 years? If so, can you collect on his.

No, because she is remarried.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

LaterGator — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 19:51:55 GMT

Yes, I did know that. I am older than my DH. I had enough credits to get SS now so I'm taking it and when my DH retires, my SS will increase because he will get much more than I am getting now.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

LaterGator — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 19:53:40 GMT

On 1/21/2014 happy housewife said:
On 1/21/2014 Lynneuk said:
Were you married to your first husband for longer than 10 years? If so, can you collect on his.

No, because she is remarried.

Yes, you are absolutely correct HH. I worked at the SS office years ago and the same applied then.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

Junebug54 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:01:55 GMT

On 1/21/2014 happy housewife said:
On 1/21/2014 Lynneuk said:
Were you married to your first husband for longer than 10 years? If so, can you collect on his.

No, because she is remarried.

I am remarried and I collect on my first husbands.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

croemer — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:03:04 GMT

On 1/21/2014 luvtogolf said:
On 1/21/2014 happy housewife said:
On 1/21/2014 Lynneuk said:
Were you married to your first husband for longer than 10 years? If so, can you collect on his.

No, because she is remarried.

I am remarried and I collect on my first husbands.

Yes you can choose which husband's to collect on and it does not affect him or if he has a new wife.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

Junebug54 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:03:35 GMT

I was widowed and started collecting at 60 before I remarried. Had to wait until I was over 60 however.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

tansy — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:04:20 GMT

Re: SSA Did you know that----

Kookielady — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:04:37 GMT

Here goes: I was married for 17 years to my first husband (he has remarried and was also a state employee who collects on his state pension).

Now that I am remarried, I could collect only if I had enough credits on my own.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

adelle38 — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:07:24 GMT

Are you complaining that you can't receive benefits from a system to which you did not contribute? Didn't you plan for retirement ?

Re: SSA Did you know that----

Anniecamp — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:43:37 GMT

It doesn't matter if the spouse is younger, you can only collect when THEY do. So, even if dh is older, if not collecting his ss yet, the wife can't collect on his until he does.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

chrystaltree — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 21:59:29 GMT

That's because you want to collect a spouse benefit. Obviously you can't collect until the wage earner collects his benefit. That's pretty much a given. If you just wanted to game the system, you should have married an older man.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

chumlee_ — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:42:10 GMT

Your opening line says it all. Minimum credits are required - then you go on to say you never contributed - DUH!

Re: SSA Did you know that----

Lynneuk — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 19:17:01 GMT

On 1/21/2014 Anniecamp said:
It doesn't matter if the spouse is younger, you can only collect when THEY do. So, even if dh is older, if not collecting his ss yet, the wife can't collect on his until he does.

I think the older spouse can apply for SS then defer receiving payments,allowing the younger spouse to collect spousal payments.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

BellaPaprika — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 19:18:46 GMT

And why do you think you should be able to collect now from a fund you never contributed to? You'll just have to wait for your toy boy to reach retirement age.

Re: SSA Did you know that----

bikerbabe — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 19:46:00 GMT

Makes sense to me. You say you didn't pay the minimum amount into the system. If you didn't marry at all you would not be able to collect anything. A good reason for a wife not to solely rely on getting her husband's SS. You never know what might happen in the future.