Ask Larry

I am 83 years old and my second husband who I have been married to for 40 years is 90 years old. I started collecting social security at 62 and currently collect about $400 per month. My husband started collecting social security at 65 and collects about $2,600 per month. My kids tell me, after all these years, that am I entitled to spousal benefits where I can collect 50% of my husband's social security benefits and when he dies 100% of his benefits. Is this correct?

Hi,

That's essentially correct, but you wouldn't actually be paid 50% of your husband's benefits as a spouse if you filed on your own record at age 62. For example:

Say Mary filed for her retirement benefits at age 62. Her unreduced rate at full retirement age (PIA) would have been $500, but her reduced age 62 rate is $400. Mary's husband files later for his benefits and receives his unreduced rate (PIA) of $2600. If Mary files for spousal benefits after reaching her full retirement age, her spousal rate would be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA, which in this example would amount to $800 (i.e. $2600/2 - $500). Mary's spousal rate would then be added to her reduced retirement rate to give her a combined rate of $1200 (i.e. $400 + $800).

If Mary's husband dies in the above example, Mary's widow's benefits would be calculated by subtracting her reduced rate of $400 from her husband's full rate of $2600, giving her a combined rate of $2600 (i.e. $400 + $2200).

It sounds like you should be eligible for additional spousal benefits unless perhaps you are receiving a government pension based on your work that was exempt from Social Security taxes (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf). If you haven't already done so, you should probably contact Social Security to file for spousal benefits ASAP.

Best, Jerry