Filed & approved SS benefits, but no indication of spousal benefits

[Cantarana]

I applied and was approved to begin my Social Security benefits, but neither in my online account, nor my spouse’s account (who is already receiving own benefits), is there any indication of spousal benefits for my spouse starting as well. The best I could do is to call SSA & being placed on a 2-hour wait to speak to a live person, but which dropped me an hour into the wait! Nor is there a way to send a message to SSA to inquire. Does anyone know if my spouse’s spousal benefits just start at the same time as my own benefits? That is, should I worry about not seeing any indication from SSA about my spouse’s spousal benefits starting up along with my own benefits?

[Hebell]

To my knowledge, everyone has to apply for their own benefits, even if they are applying for spousal benefits. The action of you applying for your own benefits, does not automatically invoke benefits for your spouse. Please double check but that was my assumption

[chemocean]

I just applied for spousal SS benefits because of the GPO repeal. During the application, it specifically asked if I was applying for my own, spousal or disability benefits. So as the earlier poster indicated, I think you have to specifically apply for spousal benefits in an application separate from the application from your own benefits.

[Kenkat]

Your spouse will have to apply separately for spousal benefits, social security won’t do it for you.

Shortly before my mom passing away (and my dad was finally willing to discuss their finances a bit), I learned that she had never applied for the spousal benefit, just collecting her own benefit. The spousal “true up” would have been about $250/mo. For 22 years. Oh well.

[Tracker968]

My wife was already receiving benefits when i applied. My plan was for me to apply, wait until I was approved, then have her apply for spousal benefits. Instead, they automatically adjusted her benefit. I have to say that the whole process send very amateurish. Some of the correspondence was wrong and was corrected later, some was printed on very thin paper using a printer that was running out of ink and was barely legible. But they do seem to get everything right eventually.

[Cantarana]

Thanks all for your insight. I tried applying online on SSA for my spouse’s spousal benefits, but got to a message saying that it could not be done online and I would have to contact SS by phone. Earlier, I had left a callback with SS & three hours or more later received the call. A very nice agent confirmed that spousal benefits have to be applied for through a phone appointment. Nevertheless, she took down most of the information about me and my spouse, set up a phone appointment for the earliest date on Feb 27, more than a month and a half from now, and sent me a confirmation text message. She also indicated that after the phone appointment, it could take 60 days to process the application. However, she said the benefits effective date will be January and payments will be made retroactively. So now we wait until February 27 with fingers crossed.

[jebmke]

I was able to do it by phone (not recently) but I did have to go into the office and provide a "raised seal" certified copy of our marriage certificate. Photocopy wasn't enough. Didn't take long but I ended up having to request the doc from the state where we got married.

[munemaker]

Your spouse will have to apply separately for spousal benefits, social security won’t do it for you.

In my case, SS did do it for me. My wife was collecting when I applied. I received an apparent routine call from a SS employee about my application. The SS employee mentioned she would adjust my wife's benefit for spousal, but she could not do this until after I received my first payment. Sure enough, shortly after my first payment, her benefit was increased per spousal. My wife never applied for spousal and never talked to a SS employee.

My wife works part time and her benefit was previously increasing every year as a result of her continuing contributions (while receiving SS payments). After receiving spousal benefit, she no longer receives an annual increase for her ongoing contributions, which I find interesting.

MUN

[tallguy3891]

Your spouse will have to apply separately for spousal benefits, social security won’t do it for you.

Shortly before my mom passing away (and my dad was finally willing to discuss their finances a bit), I learned that she had never applied for the spousal benefit, just collecting her own benefit. The spousal “true up” would have been about $250/mo. For 22 years. Oh well.

Not sure how long ago this was, but is it possible your dad or the estate can contact SSA to see if some of this can still be applied for? SSA has lots of regs, it might be worth it to contact them regarding what happened?

[Kenkat]

Your spouse will have to apply separately for spousal benefits, social security won’t do it for you.

Shortly before my mom passing away (and my dad was finally willing to discuss their finances a bit), I learned that she had never applied for the spousal benefit, just collecting her own benefit. The spousal “true up” would have been about $250/mo. For 22 years. Oh well.

Not sure how long ago this was, but is it possible your dad or the estate can contact SSA to see if some of this can still be applied for? SSA has lots of regs, it might be worth it to contact them regarding what happened?

Social security will only go back 6 months; I ultimately decided it was not worth trying to do and get everyone worked up about. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Not Law]

My wife works part time and her benefit was previously increasing every year as a result of her continuing contributions (while receiving SS payments). After receiving spousal benefit, she no longer receives an annual increase for her ongoing contributions, which I find interesting.

The spousal benefit tops off your spouse's payment to equal 50% of your PIA. Continuing contributions on her part will require less spousal benefit dollars to reach that 50%. If she works long enough that her own benefits exceeds 50% of your PIA, then her benefit will again increase due to the added contributions.

[munemaker]

My wife works part time and her benefit was previously increasing every year as a result of her continuing contributions (while receiving SS payments). After receiving spousal benefit, she no longer receives an annual increase for her ongoing contributions, which I find interesting.

The spousal benefit tops off your spouse's payment to equal 50% of your PIA. Continuing contributions on her part will require less spousal benefit dollars to reach that 50%. If she works long enough that her own benefits exceeds 50% of your PIA, then her benefit will again increase due to the added contributions.

Thanks for confirming what I suspected.

MUN