Q:
A short time ago I taught Social Security for women event. One of the women
in the class gave me the following scenario: She is 64. Her ex-husband is 66.
Both plan to take the spousal benefit off the other, and then their own at age
70. Her financial advisor said it was okay. So a little over a year ago, her
ex-husband began taking his spousal benefit (without her filing). Her plan is
to take her spousal benefit when she turns 66. In doing so, they both will be
taking Spousal Benefits at the same time, until her ex-husband turns 70. Then
he will take his own benefit. When she turns 70, she plans to take her own
benefit. As I mentioned, they began this strategy, based upon her advisor’s
advice. However the slides state in the presentation state both spouses can’t
receive spousal benefits on each other’s record at the same time.’ Can she wait
until she’s 68, and he’s 70, and then begin taking a spousal benefit for 2
years? I was under the impression that only one spouse can take the spousal
benefit. Where does this leave her? Is she stuck with taking her own benefit at
66? Or getting nothing until she turns 70? She’s now worried that maybe they
received some bad advice.
A:
It turns out they got good advice. The difference is that they are divorced.
Two divorced spouses can each take spousal benefits off the other’s record at
the same time. Just a quirk in the rules, understanding that two divorced
spouses don’t combine finances or have control over each other’s actions.
