Covisum Blog

A subscriber called our support team and asked this claiming question for his client. I have a client, Jim, who is 62 years old. His wife, Kim, is five years older and already collecting, having elected at age 62. Can he file now and have his wife apply for the spousal benefit? Her benefit is $425 a month, and his benefit at age 62 would be $1,706 and at 66 would be $2,265.

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If you are under full retirement age (FRA), there is a limit to what you can earn before some or all of your benefits are withheld. This is true whether you are receiving Social Security Retirement or a Survivor benefit. Once you reach FRA, you can make as much as you want. It's important to note, this is not a tax. If the earnings penalty applies to you, Social Security will adjust your benefit formula at FRA to treat the months that you did not receive a check as if you had not elected benefits for that month.