Can I draw my Social Security and half of my husband's?

You cannot receive both your full Social Security retirement benefit and a spousal benefit (half of your husband's) at the same time; instead, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will pay you the higher of the two amounts.

Can both me and my spouse collect Social Security?

Yes, both you and your spouse can collect Social Security, either from your own work records or as a spousal benefit, but you can't receive both full amounts; you get your own benefit or the higher spousal benefit (up to 50% of the primary earner's amount), not a combined total, making claiming strategies crucial for maximizing combined income. A spouse must be at least 62 (or caring for a young/disabled child) and the primary worker must be receiving benefits to qualify for spousal benefits.
 

Can I collect my Social Security at 62 and switch to spousal benefits later?

No, generally you cannot start your own reduced Social Security at 62 and then switch to a higher spousal benefit later due to "deemed filing", a rule requiring you to apply for all benefits you're eligible for, paying the higher of your own or the spousal amount. The key exception is if your spouse isn't receiving benefits yet; then you can start your own early and switch when they file, receiving the greater of the two. This strategy used to work before the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act for those born before 1954, but now it's mostly limited to situations where your spouse hasn't claimed. 

How to maximize social security benefits for a married couple?

The longer the spouse with the higher benefit waits to start collecting, the higher benefits will be for both spouses. Delaying the higher earning spouse's benefits could also eventually increase the other spouse's survivors benefits.

What is the 50 Social Security spousal benefit?

For a spouse who is not entitled to benefits on his or her own earnings record, this reduction factor is applied to the base spousal benefit, which is 50 percent of the worker's primary insurance amount.

When Can My Spouse Collect Half Of My Social Security? - CountyOffice.org

Why isn't my wife's spousal benefit 50% of my Social Security retirement benefit?

Your wife's spousal benefit isn't 50% because it's reduced if she claims it before her own full retirement age (FRA), potentially dropping to 32.5% at age 62, and she receives the higher of her own retirement benefit or the spousal benefit, but she can't get both; also, factors like your own delayed filing or if she's already taking a smaller benefit on her own record affect the calculation. The 50% is the maximum she can receive at her FRA, based on your FRA benefit. 

When can a spouse get half of Social Security?

Your spouse can collect a spousal Social Security benefit (up to half your full retirement amount) as early as age 62, but they must wait until you have filed for your own benefits, and the amount increases the longer they wait, up to their full retirement age (FRA), unless they are caring for a young child. They'll receive their own higher benefit if eligible, otherwise the spousal benefit (reduced if claimed early). 

What is the maximum monthly Social Security benefit for a married couple?

If both spouses retire at age 70 in 2026 and meet the maximum income requirements, the maximum monthly retirement benefit they each can receive is $5,430 per month, or $65,160 per year. Together, their monthly Social Security income would be $10,860 per month, or $130,320 per year.

What is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding Social Security?

One of the biggest mistakes people make with Social Security is claiming benefits too early (at age 62), which permanently reduces their monthly payments by up to 30% compared to their Full Retirement Age (FRA) benefit, significantly impacting lifetime earnings. Many fail to understand that delaying benefits, even past FRA, offers substantial, guaranteed annual increases (up to 8% per year until age 70) that provide a much larger, inflation-adjusted income for life, says AARP.
 

How much do you have to make to get $3,000 a month in Social Security?

To get around $3,000 a month in Social Security, you generally need high lifetime earnings, often requiring over $100,000 annually for your 35 highest-earning, inflation-adjusted years, and claiming benefits at your full retirement age (FRA) or waiting until age 70 for the maximum, though some high earners claim earlier for slightly less. The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates benefits based on your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) from your top 35 years, so consistently earning above the wage base cap helps significantly. 

What is the new law for Social Security spousal benefits?

The biggest recent change for spousal benefits is the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) of 2023, effective January 2024, which eliminates the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), meaning government pensions won't reduce spouses' or surviving spouses' Social Security benefits anymore. Other rules still apply, like the "deemed filing" rule (claiming one benefit means you claim the other), and the fact that divorced spouses can get benefits if married 10+ years. Key strategies involve maximizing benefits by delaying claims and coordinating filing times.
 

What does Suze Orman say about taking Social Security at 62?

Suze Orman strongly advises against taking Social Security at 62, calling it a major financial mistake for most healthy people, as it permanently reduces your monthly benefit by up to 30%. She advocates delaying until Full Retirement Age (FRA) or ideally age 70 for a significantly higher, guaranteed lifetime income, explaining that longer life expectancies mean people need more money later in retirement, and waiting provides crucial financial stability against rising costs. The only exception she makes is for individuals with serious health issues or shorter life expectancies, where claiming early might maximize total lifetime benefits, notes Money Talks News and 24/7 Wall St.. 

Is it wise to take spousal social security benefits?

Yes, taking spousal Social Security benefits is often wise for couples with uneven earnings, providing a crucial income boost for the lower earner, but the timing (claiming early vs. waiting) depends on individual factors like age, health, and career history; the goal is to maximize the total lifetime benefit, often by having the lower earner claim early and the higher earner delay to earn delayed credits, ensuring the survivor receives the larger benefit. 

Can I collect spousal benefits and wait until I am 70 to collect my own Social Security?

No, generally you cannot collect spousal benefits and simultaneously delay your own Social Security to age 70; due to "deemed filing" rules (for those born on or after Jan 2, 1954), applying for one means you're deemed to apply for the other, preventing you from collecting a spousal benefit while letting your own grow, unless you're applying for survivor benefits on a deceased spouse's record, notes the Social Security Administration and AARP. 

What is the Social Security split strategy for married couples?

Social Security Strategies for Spouses

With the first strategy, sometimes called the “62/70 split,” the lower-earning spouse takes Social Security as early as age 62 and the higher-earning spouse postpones filing until age 70 to maximize his or her benefit.

How to increase social security benefits?

Additional work will increase your retirement benefits. Each year you work will replace a zero or low earnings year in your Social Security benefit calculation, which could help to increase your benefit amount.

What are the three ways you can lose your Social Security?

You can lose Social Security benefits by getting incarcerated (suspension), owing certain federal debts like taxes or child support (garnishment/withholding), or if you're receiving them on a spouse's record and remarry (loss of spousal benefit). Other ways include earning too much while claiming early (earnings penalty), which reduces benefits, or if your disability status changes. 

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 a month rule for retirement is a simple guideline stating that for every $1,000 in desired monthly income, you need about $240,000 saved, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate ($240,000 x 0.05 = $12,000/year or $1,000/month). Popularized by financial planner Wes Moss, it helps estimate savings goals by linking desired income to a tangible savings target, but it doesn't account for inflation, market volatility, or other income sources like Social Security, requiring a personalized plan for real-world application.
 

What is the number one regret of retirees?

The #1 regret of retirees often centers on not saving enough, leading to financial insecurity, but closely followed by not planning adequately for the lifestyle and time use, resulting in missed opportunities like travel or spending time with family, and regretting working too hard or leaving the workforce too soon. Many wish they'd worried less and enjoyed life more, while also regretting issues like underestimating healthcare costs and failing to plan for taxes or a fulfilling post-work identity. 

How many people have $500,000 in their retirement account?

While averages can be misleading, roughly 7-9% of Americans have $500,000 or more in retirement savings, though this varies significantly by age, with older groups having higher balances but still often falling short of ideal figures, and medians (the middle value) being much lower than averages. For example, in late 2025, about 7.2% of Americans had $500K+, while in 2022, 9% of households had over $500K in retirement accounts, notes USAFacts. 

How much Social Security will I get if I make $60,000 a year?

If you consistently earn $60,000/year over your career, you can expect roughly $2,000 - $2,300 per month at your full retirement age (FRA), but this varies greatly by birth year and claiming age, with estimates suggesting around $2,311 at FRA for 2025 earners, and potentially more if you delay benefits past FRA (e.g., $3,000+) or less if claimed early. Your official estimate from the SSA website is essential, as factors like inflation adjustments and your actual earnings history (not just current income) matter. 

Are Social Security checks worth a maximum of $5108?

Yes, a Social Security check can be worth a maximum of $5,108 per month, but that amount is for individuals who earned the maximum taxable income for at least 35 years and delayed claiming benefits until age 70 in 2025; this figure will rise to $5,251 in 2026, with benefits varying greatly based on earnings and claiming age. 

How do I apply to get half of my husband's Social Security?

Form SSA-2 | Information You Need to Apply for Spouse's or Divorced Spouse's Benefits. You can apply: Online, if you are within 3 months of age 62 or older, or. By calling our national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting your local Social Security office.

Can I draw my Social Security and my husband at the same time?

If you are married and you and your spouse have worked and earned enough credits individually, you will each get your own Social Security benefit.

What are the changes for Social Security in 2025?

The COLA was 2.5 percent in 2025. Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8 percent COLA beginning in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).