Many couples use social security benefits as a source of income to cover their finances.
If you’re planning to collect them with your spouse when you retire, make sure you know how to get the most out of it before you get to that point.
When someone files for benefits, their spouse could also be eligible to receive benefits based on person filing.
People may decide to retire at age 62, but it will greatly lower benefits.
Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to collecting social security as a married couple
In order to claim SSI when you retire, you need to have worked 40 credits over your working lifespan.
The value changes, but working part-time could cause you to fall short on credits.
If married, your benefits can reflect your spouse’s work record. Your benefit will then be half of your spouse’s. If your spouse gets $2,000 per month, you can get $1,000.
Even if you qualify for your own benefits, you may get more by claiming your spouse’s, and the social security administration will pay whichever is higher.
You cannot claim your spouse’s benefits if you retire before them.
If your spouse is holding out to collect more money in the long run, it will stop you from collecting benefits because you cannot claim them until they file.
Make sure you’re on the same page together.
When someone is claiming their own benefits, by waiting every year the amount they can collect goes up. Spousal benefits work differently.
Spousal benefits cannot grow. If the spouse collecting retires early, then the person collecting spousal benefits can just sign up because waiting does them no good.
Related: One man finally receives spouse’s social security benefits after being denied for years
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