Q: Can I receive two retirement benefits? I have heard that spouses can collect 50% of their husband’s benefits; can I collect my own benefit and half of my husband’s?
A: You can only collect one Social Security benefit. When you retire Social Security will calculate your own benefit and any other benefits that you may qualify for (spousal, divorced spouse or survivor benefits). You will be paid the higher or your own benefit or any other benefit that you qualify for, however you can not collect both.
Please read more about how spousal benefits work by reading Social Security’s Gift to Married Couples: The Spousal Benefit.
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Linda says
my husband was disabled in 2007 and has been on disability ssi since then I have heard that I should have been included as his spouse and dependent is this true I now collect my own ssi when I turned 62 but was wondering how come he didn’t get money for me as his dependent.
kristine says
Thank you for the question Linda. Certain family members can qualify for benefits when someone is on disability, but there are rules. In order for a spouse to qualify for dependent benefits when the husband is disabled, she must be age 62 or older or she must be caring for a child who is under age 16; the child must be eligible for dependent benefits as well. So unless you had a child under age 16 when your husband became disabled you were not eligible for dependent benefits until you turned 62. Once you turned 62, you could collect your own benefits or the amount you would have received as your husband’s spouse, but not both. I hope this helps…
brenda says
I am planning on taking early retirement 60 using my late husband benefits what happens to my benefits can I collect that?
va says
my husband passed and I am receiving surviors benefits. I will be 66 in February 2013 . I have also worked and payed social security since I was 17. Am I able to receive my social security?
kristine says
Thank you for the question. If you qualify for Social Security based on your own record, then you can collect either the survivor benefit you are currently receiving or your own benefit, whichever is higher. If your own benefit is equal to or higher than the survivor benefit, you might consider delaying collecting your own benefit until age 70; this will allow your benefit to continue accruing credits. I hope this helps.
kristine says
Hi Brenda. Thank you for the question. If you qualify for Social Security based on your own work record, then yes, you will be able to collect your own benefit at retirement age (62 for early retirement, 66 is full retirement for most people retiring now). However, you can not collect both benefits. In most cases, it is best to take widow benefits at age 60 and delay your own benefit until you reach full retirement age or even later. The benefit of waiting to take your own benefit is that it continues to earn credits and will hopefully be higher than the survivor benefit you collect at age 60.
Rosie says
My husband has been on SSI since his late 30’s due to being legally blind. Since I work we do have to claim almost 90% of his ssi benefits at the end of the year. He is now 59 what I am wondering at what point does his SSI benefits turn into retirement benefits? Since I am the one who has the higher income is their anyway I can have his benefits come out of my social security entitlement once he reaches age 62. During this time he has been on SSI he has had none to little income coming in. I would like to some way have to get away from being taxed on his ssi benefits at the end of the year. If his benefits go from SSI to retirement does that not go away? at what age can he switch from ssi to retirement?
Rosie says
My husband has been on SSI for over 20 years due to blindness. I work which means we do claim almost 90% of his ssi benefits at the end of the year. He is now 59. I have a few questions
1. I am the one who has the higher income is their anyway I can have his benefits come out of my social security entitlement once he reaches age 62.
2. at what age can he go from ssi benefits to retirement benefits?
Thank you
kristine says
Rosie – I am assuming that you mean Social Security disability benefits, not SSI. Those are two completely different programs and while both help people with disabilities, you have to meet very strict financial requirements for SSI.
Disability benefits are based on your primary insurance benefit amount, so it’s not likely that your husband’s benefit will increase, even when he reaches his full retirement age. However, if half of your benefit amount is greater than the amount he is receiving now, he can switch to the spousal benefit when you retire. If you decide to work beyond your full retirement age, you can “file and suspend” at your FRA which will allow your husband to switch to spousal benefits. The key here is that you must either be retired or at your full retirement age. If neither apply when your husband turns 62 he will not be able to switch to spousal benefits at that time.
kristine says
Your husband’s Social Security benefits will be taxed as long as you have other income over the income limits. His age or whether he is claiming disability vs. retirement benefits doesn’t change how those benefits are taxed. Most likely his benefits will continue to be taxed until you retire and your taxable income goes down.