Q & A
If I worked and made enough to draw Social Security benefits on my own, but could draw more from my husband, do I have a choice?
Answer: No, you don’t. When you retire and notify Social Security that you want to begin receiving retirement benefits, they will work with you to see that you get the largest amount possible. Here’s how it works: When the first spouse retires, his or her Social Security benefit will be calculated based only on his or her own work history. That benefit will become the couple’s Primary Insurance Benefit. When the second spouse retires, Social Security looks at the second spouse’s work history. The second spouse’s benefit will be based on the LARGER of: (1) half of the Primary Insurance Benefit, or (2) the retirement benefit that the second spouse earned as a result of her own work history.
Source: http://www.todaysseniors.com/pages/Social_Security_Questions.html
This posting is presented for informational purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. Any opinions or interpretations presented are either those of the original author or, in the case of articles authored by the AMAC Foundation, are the opinions of AMAC Foundation staff, originally trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA) and certified via the AMAC Foundation. Any links included in the article are valid on the posted date; socialsecurityreport.org cannot guarantee the duration of the links’ validity. NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (https://amacfoundation.org/services/) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org. Because we are a non-profit organization, there is no charge for these services.