Social security
Since 2022 I have been receiving spousal benefits ( husband died Dec 2021). I am turning 70 next year, can I switch to my benefits and get a higher payout?
Terry Says
It depends on whether your benefit is higher at age 70 than your spousal benefit. BUT, you will not get the delayed benefit of having waited until age 70.
If you were born on or after January 2, 1954, the deemed filing rule applies. This means that when you apply for benefits, you are automatically considered to be applying for both your own and spousal benefits. You cannot choose to file for one and delay the other.
So they probably considered your own benefit when they first gave you spousal benefits. I don’t trust SS to do the calculations correctly, though. It might be worth paying the $49 to get advice from MaximizeMySocialSecurity.com.
