One of the most common questions we hear from couples planning for retirement is:
“If my spouse starts Social Security at age 62 and I delay mine until age 70, can she later receive a higher benefit based on my record?”
The answer is yes — but there are important details to understand about how spousal benefits work, how early filing impacts the calculation, and what happens later if one spouse passes away. Let’s break it down.
Real-Life Example: John and Nancy
- John was born in 1967. His Full Retirement Age (FRA) is 67, and his monthly Social Security benefit at that age would be $3,000.
- Nancy, born in April 1968, also has an FRA of 67. Her projected benefit at that age is $1,000/month.
Nancy Files Early
Nancy decides to file for Social Security at age 62 and 1 month, the earliest she can claim benefits. Because she’s filing 59 months before her FRA, her benefit is reduced by 29.6%, giving her $704/month instead of the full $1,000.
Why 29.6% and not 30%?
The Social Security Administration applies monthly reductions for early filing — not a flat percentage.
- The first 36 months are reduced by 5/9 of 1% per month
- Any additional months are reduced by 5/12 of 1%
In Nancy’s case, this totals 29.6%, locking her benefit at $704/month.
At this point, Nancy can only receive her own benefit, because John hasn’t started collecting Social Security yet.
John Delays Until Age 70
John waits until age 70 to file for benefits. For every year he delays past his FRA, his benefit grows by 8% per year, thanks to Delayed Retirement Credits. That gives him a monthly benefit of $3,720 instead of $3,000 — a 24% increase.
Here’s where the spousal benefit comes in.
Even though John is receiving $3,720/month, the spousal benefit Nancy can receive is based on John’s FRA benefit, which is $3,000 — not his increased age-70 amount.
How the Spousal Benefit Is Calculated
At FRA, a spouse can receive up to 50% of the other spouse’s FRA benefit. In this case:
- 50% of John’s FRA benefit = $1,500
- Nancy’s own FRA benefit = $1,000
- Spousal top-up = $1,500 – $1,000 = $500
Since Nancy is now 69 years old when John files, she’s past her FRA, which means there’s no reduction to the spousal portion. While her own retirement benefit was reduced for filing early, the spousal top-up isn’t — because she’s past FRA when it begins.
So now:
- Her own (reduced) benefit = $704
- Spousal top-up = $500
- Total monthly benefit = $1,204
Combined Household Income
- John’s benefit: $3,720/month
- Nancy’s benefit: $1,204/month
- Combined income: $4,924/month
What Happens If John Dies First?
If John passes away before Nancy, she becomes eligible for a survivor benefit. This means she can step up to receive his full benefit of $3,720/month.
She doesn't continue to receive both benefits. Instead, her smaller benefit stops, and she begins receiving the larger amount.
So in this case, Nancy’s income goes from $1,204/month to $3,720/month, a significant increase that provides continued financial security.
Key Takeaways
- Filing early permanently reduces your own Social Security benefit, but it doesn't reduce a spousal top-up if you’re past FRA when it begins.
- Spousal benefits are always based on your spouse’s FRA amount, not their delayed retirement credits.
- Survivor benefits do include delayed retirement credits, so delaying your own benefit can also protect your spouse’s future income.
- Every month counts. Filing even one month later can slightly reduce your early filing penalty, as we saw with Nancy’s 29.6% reduction instead of 30%.
Plan Smarter, Retire Better
Coordinating Social Security timing between spouses can have a powerful impact on your long-term financial picture — both while you're alive and for your surviving spouse. These aren’t decisions to make in a vacuum.
If you want help modeling the right filing strategy for your situation, try the Retirement Budget Calculator for free. You’ll see how different claiming ages affect your plan — and if you need a second opinion, our team is here to help.
