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Can I Receive A Spousal Benefit While My Benefits Are Suspended?
i started receiving social security at 62, I suspended social security at fra. my spouse will be 62 in 2022. can I receive a spousal benefit when they turn 62.
Hi. No. First off, even if you suspend your benefits you continue to be technically entitled to those benefits. So, if you apply for spousal benefits your spousal rate would be calculated by subtracting your primary insurance amount (PIA) from 50% of your spouse's PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA). Therefore, you could only qualify for spousal benefits if your spouse's PIA is more than twice as much as your own PIA.
Furthermore, even if your spouse's PIA is more than twice as much as your own PIA, you couldn't be paid spousal benefits for any month(s) that your own benefits are suspended (https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-01160).
Best, Jerry