topic Re: Spousal Soc Sec in Retirement tax questions

Spousal Soc Sec

JM117 — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 17:58:44 GMT

will Soc Sec use the larger number between a spousal benefit as opposed to what might be available to my wife on her own account?

Re: Spousal Soc Sec

Destiny_Y_JD — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 21:03:53 GMT

If you are eligible for both a spousal benefit and your own retirement or disability benefit, you cannot collect the combined total. If your benefit is higher, you'll receive only that amount. If the spousal benefit is bigger, Social Security will pay you a combination of the benefits, drawing on both your Social Security account and your mate's, but equal to that higher amount.
Page 7 of https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10035.pdf gives some good examples.

Re: Spousal Soc Sec

Opus 17 — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 21:08:37 GMT

The spouse benefit is 50% of the spouse's retirement benefit. So when a spouse applies for retirement benefits, they will be paid 50% of their spouse's benefit, or their own benefit, whichever is larger, but not both.