Question re Social Security benefits

depglass · ‎03-10-2010

I started drawing at 62, DH waited until 69, so his check is much larger than mine. I was told by a friend I could draw half his, so I called SS and this appears to be true. They will call me back in Jan. I forgot to ask them, is this retroactive?

Katrinka23 · ‎03-11-2010

Sorry - it is not retroactive!

kaydee50 · ‎02-07-2011

@depglass wrote:
I started drawing at 62, DH waited until 69, so his check is much larger than mine. I was told by a friend I could draw half his, so I called SS and this appears to be true. They will call me back in Jan. I forgot to ask them, is this retroactive?

It is my understanding that you need to be full retirement age in order to do what you suggest. At least that was what I was told several years ago when I tried to do the same thing. So if you are full retirement age, you should be able to collect but it won't be retroactive.

BTW, both of us waited until 70 to collect and are very happy we did!

Mom2Dogs · ‎03-09-2010

@depglass Has your husband passed away? If so, they you can get some of his SS Income but I was not aware that you could do that if the spouse was still living....I will be interested to see the replies.

Shelbelle · ‎03-09-2010

it is my understanding that your birth date has to be prior to 1954 to be able to get that offer of half of his, I get mine and enough of my DH to make mine half of his, I was born in 1952 and collected at 66.

Justholdingon · ‎10-17-2011

how could you draw half of his if he's collecting it?

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@Justholdingon wrote:

how could you draw half of his if he's collecting it?

@Justholdingon it does not affect the amount he is getting.

sandy53 · ‎03-12-2010

When I reached my full retirement age (65.5) I started collecting spousal benefits (half of my DH's amount, he's still alive). I will switch to my own benefit amount this summer when I turn 70. These spousal benefits are only available to those born in 1953 and before, if I remember correctly. I just got in since I was born in 1953.

I seriously doubt you could go back and re-do things in your situation, but a call to your SS office sounds like something you should do. SS is complicated and there is a lot of misinformation or lack of information on boards like this.

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

From what I understand once someone reaches the age of 62 she can get half of his benefits as long as he has filed.

My brother and his wife did this also. She started collection at 62. He retired at 70 and started collecting. His was larger than hers so she was given half of his without it affecting him.