Have you ever wondered if there’s a way to start receiving Social Security benefits early without sacrificing your future income? There’s a strategy that might work for you: claiming spousal Social Security benefits before turning on your own benefits. This approach can provide additional income in your later years without affecting your own benefit limits, making it a smart financial move for many. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how this works, who’s eligible, and why it can help you maximize your retirement income.

What Are Spousal Social Security Benefits?

Spousal Social Security benefits allow you to receive payments based on your spouse’s earnings record instead of your own. You can get up to 50% of your spouse’s full retirement benefit—the amount they’d receive at their full retirement age (FRA), which is between 66 and 67 depending on their birth year. This can be a great option if your spouse has a higher earnings history than you.

How to Turn On Spousal Benefits Before Your Own

You can activate spousal benefits without touching your own Social Security benefits, and here’s the key: doing so doesn’t reduce or limit your own future benefits. Here’s what you need to know about eligibility and the process:

Eligibility Requirements

To claim spousal benefits:

• Your spouse must already be receiving their own benefits. They need to have filed for Social Security themselves.

• You must be at least 62 years old. This is the earliest age you can claim any Social Security benefit.

• You must have been married for at least one year (or be the parent of your spouse’s child).

If you claim spousal benefits before your FRA, the amount you receive will be reduced—more on that below—but this reduction only applies to the spousal portion. Your own benefits remain unaffected and can continue to grow if you delay claiming them.

The Process

Claiming spousal benefits is simple:

1. Visit the

   Social Security Administration’s website

   , call their hotline, or visit a local office.

2. Provide details about your spouse and your marriage (e.g., marriage certificate if needed).

3. Specify that you’re applying for spousal benefits only—not your own.

Once approved, you’ll start receiving monthly payments based on your spouse’s earnings record. Later, you can switch to your own benefits when it makes sense for you.

Why This Is a Wise Financial Move

The beauty of this strategy lies in its flexibility and potential to increase your total retirement income. By turning on spousal benefits early, you get cash flow now while letting your own benefits grow for later. Here’s how it works and why it’s smart:

Delaying Your Own Benefits Boosts Them

For every year you delay claiming your own Social Security benefits past your FRA, up to age 70, your benefit increases by about 8%. This is due to delayed retirement credits. Meanwhile, you can collect spousal benefits to cover expenses, effectively “bridging the gap” until your own larger benefit kicks in.

A Real-World Example

Let’s break it down with numbers:

• At FRA, your spousal benefit is $1,000/month, and your own benefit is $1,500/month.

• If you claim spousal benefits at 62, you might get $700/month (a 30% reduction for claiming early).

• Wait until 70 to claim your own benefits, and that $1,500 could grow to ~$1,980/month (8% annual increase for 4 years beyond FRA).

Scenario 1: Using This Strategy

• Age 62–70: You receive $700/month (spousal).

• Age 70 onward: You switch to $1,980/month (own).

Scenario 2: Claiming Your Own Early

• Age 62 onward: You receive $1,050/month (own, reduced 30%), and it never increases.

By age 80, Scenario 1 nets you significantly more income because you collected spousal benefits early and maximized your own later. Plus, your own benefit limits aren’t impacted—your $1,980/month at 70 is based solely on your earnings record and delay, not your spousal claiming history.

Extra Perk: Survivor Benefits

If your spouse has a higher earnings record and delays their benefits, it also increases the survivor benefit you’d receive if they pass away first. This adds long-term security to your plan.

Key Considerations

This strategy isn’t perfect for everyone, so here are some factors to weigh:

• Early Claiming Reduces Spousal Benefits: If you claim spousal benefits before FRA, you’ll get less than 50% of your spouse’s full benefit. For example, at 62, you might see a 25–30% reduction, depending on your FRA.

• Earnings Test (If Working): If you’re under FRA and still working, earning over $19,560/year (2023 limit) could temporarily reduce your spousal benefits. This reduction disappears at FRA, and withheld amounts are later credited back.

• Taxes: Spousal benefits might push your income into a taxable bracket. Check with a tax advisor.

• One-Way Switch: You can go from spousal to your own benefits later if yours are higher, but once you claim your own, you can’t revert to spousal.

Your spouse’s benefits? Unaffected. Their payment stays based on their own record and claiming age.

Is This Right for You?

Turning on spousal Social Security benefits before your own can be a clever way to add more income in your later years. You get money now via spousal benefits, let your own benefits grow, and secure a higher payout down the road—all without touching your own benefit limits. It’s a win-win if your own benefit is worth delaying and your spouse is already collecting.

That said, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Your ages, earnings histories, health, and financial needs all play a role. Curious if this could work for you? Talk to a financial advisor or Social Security expert to crunch the numbers.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and isn’t financial advice. Social Security rules can be complex, and your situation is unique. Consult a professional before deciding.