Social Security question

[rboren]

I’m retired and my wife is considering it also. What I have read is they only allow a spouse to draw 50%. Neighbors,who in my eyes are crap ,divorced in order to draw more SS retirement. Doesn’t seem fair but then what is with Uncle Sam. Is what I am being told correct? Bunch of old farts on here so Surely someone on here has been through the ordeal. Thanks in advance!

[CatFan]

Spousal benefit is 50% of the other spouse’s FRA benefit whether married, divorced or widowed.

[jc1234]

I thought if the spouse never worked or had very limited income then she/he was entitled to a spousal benefit of 50%. If both spouses have worked, they each are entitled to their own benefit. Then when one spouse passes, the other spouse is entitled to the larger of the two benefits. But I may be wrong.

[lakefolk]

I thought if the spouse never worked or had very limited income then she/he was entitled to a spousal benefit of 50%. If both spouses have worked, they each are entitled to their own benefit. Then when one spouse passes, the other spouse is entitled to the larger of the two benefits. But I may be wrong.

i think this is closer to right.....

[Nobass01]

I thought if the spouse never worked or had very limited income then she/he was entitled to a spousal benefit of 50%. If both spouses have worked, they each are entitled to their own benefit. Then when one spouse passes, the other spouse is entitled to the larger of the two benefits. But I may be wrong.

Yhat’s the way I understood it when we both retired

[crawdadking]

I thought if the spouse never worked or had very limited income then she/he was entitled to a spousal benefit of 50%. If both spouses have worked, they each are entitled to their own benefit. Then when one spouse passes, the other spouse is entitled to the larger of the two benefits. But I may be wrong.

[rboren]

That’s not what I have read but I certainly hope you are correct! It reads like I draw full retirement and a spouse draws only 50% of her or my benefit depending on which is more. Dang sure doesn’t sound fair so I hope you are right! 1600.00 sounds better than 800.00 most certainly. I just thought what I read sounded crazy so maybe internet sights aren’t gospel after all!

[JER-1 BIG BASS]

Go to the online social security, called my benefits , your wife can see what she will draw, and can actually sign up there.
easy

[Bill Reynolds]

If she has never paid in SS she will draw 50% of your SS amount until your death then she will draw your full amount.
If she has paid in SS they will calculate her draw amount and if it is less than 50% of your amount, they will increase her draw to 50% of yours. Upon your death, she will draw your full amount.
If she has paid in and her draw is larger than 50% of your amount, she receives the larger amount until your death and then she will draw The larger of the two, whether yours or hers.
I don’t know what happens if she dies first and is drawing more than you, but I expect you would move up to her amount.

[Bassman Ia.]

My wife gets way more than 50%. Just turned 66 and still working and collecting.

[pavi69]

My wife gets way more than 50%. Just turned 66 and still working and collecting.

If she is getting more than 50% of what you are drawing, she is drawing based on her work history, not yours.

[Bleed Blue]

My wife and I are both retired and we both draw 100%. We both work all of our lives so she is not drawing off of mine, she is drawing on what she paid in and I am drawing on what I paid in.

[Bassman Ia.]

If she is getting more than 50% of what you are drawing, she is drawing based on her work history, not yours.

Yes, more than 50% of mine. Yes drawing on her work history 66 and is working.

[pavi69]

Post #9 has it correct.

[GregA]

My wife and I are both retired and we both draw 100%. We both work all of our lives so she is not drawing off of mine, she is drawing on what she paid in and I am drawing on what I paid in.

That's the way IT HAD BETTER WORK and my expectation. We've both worked and paid in for over 30 years

[Bassin08]

I thought if the spouse never worked or had very limited income then she/he was entitled to a spousal benefit of 50%. If both spouses have worked, they each are entitled to their own benefit. Then when one spouse passes, the other spouse is entitled to the larger of the two benefits. But I may be wrong.

My wife and I are retired. I get my earned benefit and she gets her eared benefit. If I pass away hers will stop and she will get mine.

[GregA]

I thought if the spouse never worked or had very limited income then she/he was entitled to a spousal benefit of 50%.

and we wonder why

[pavi69]

I thought if the spouse never worked or had very limited income then she/he was entitled to a spousal benefit of 50%.

You are correct.
I have a friend who fished the tour for over 20 years and overall made very little money during his lifetime. His wife made over 200K a year for many years.
His 50% draw is nearly as much as mine and I worked for 55 years.

[Have rod will travel]

I thought if the spouse never worked or had very limited income then she/he was entitled to a spousal benefit of 50%. If both spouses have worked, they each are entitled to their own benefit. Then when one spouse passes, the other spouse is entitled to the larger of the two benefits. But I may be wrong.

This is the correct answer

[mossie3]

You are correct.
I have a friend who fished the tour for over 20 years and overall made very little money during his lifetime. His wife made over 200K a year for many years.
His 50% draw is nearly as much as mine and I worked for 55 years.

Wow, how do you find a wife like that, to live your dream fishing the tour, while she works, and then have her earned SS waiting for you when you retire.