The Core Question: Splitting Social Security Strategies
For decades, a popular Social Security claiming strategy involved filing a “restricted application.” This allowed an individual who was eligible for both their own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit to claim only the spousal benefit first, letting their own retirement benefit grow until age 70. This maximized their lifetime payout. However, asking "Can I collect on my Social Security then claim my spousal benefit later?"—or vice versa—now has a very different answer for most people.
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 changed these rules significantly. The law introduced the concept of "deemed filing." This rule mandates that when you file for either your retirement benefit or your spousal benefit, you are automatically “deemed” to be filing for both. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will then pay you the higher of the two amounts. You no longer have the choice to pick one and delay the other.
The Grandfather Clause: A Tale of Two Birthdays
So, who can still use the old strategy? The answer creates a clear dividing line among retirees.
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Born on or before January 1, 1954: You are in luck. You are “grandfathered” in under the old rules. If you have reached your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you can file a restricted application to collect only spousal benefits while allowing your own retirement benefit to continue growing. Your own benefit increases by about 8% for each year you delay claiming it, up to age 70. This can result in a substantially larger monthly check later on.
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Born on or after January 2, 1954: You are subject to the new “deemed filing” rules. When you apply for benefits, you apply for everything you are eligible for at that time. The SSA will calculate both your own benefit and your potential spousal benefit and pay you the larger of the two. You cannot restrict your application to spousal benefits only.
Understanding Your Eligibility for Spousal Benefits
Before you can claim spousal benefits, you must meet several criteria set by the SSA. These are universal regardless of your birth year.
- Your Spouse's Status: Your spouse must be receiving their own Social Security retirement or disability benefits.
- Your Age: You must be at least 62 years old.
- Marital Status: You must be currently married to the worker, and the marriage must have lasted at least one continuous year.
For divorced individuals, the rules are slightly different:
- The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years.
- You must be currently unmarried.
- You must be at least 62 years old.
- The benefit you are entitled to receive based on your own work must be less than the spousal benefit you would receive from your ex-spouse's record.
Comparing Claiming Strategies: Pre-1954 vs. Post-1954
To illustrate the difference, let's look at a table comparing the options available to the two groups.
| Feature | Born on or Before Jan 1, 1954 | Born on or After Jan 2, 1954 |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted Application | Yes, can file for only spousal benefits at FRA. | No, subject to deemed filing. |
| Deemed Filing Rule | Not applicable if you wait until FRA. | Always applicable. Filing for one benefit is filing for both. |
| Strategy Available | Claim spousal benefits at FRA, let own benefit grow until 70. | Must take the higher of the two available benefits at time of filing. |
| Benefit Growth | Can earn delayed retirement credits on own benefit. | Cannot collect one benefit while the other earns delayed credits. |
Making the Right Choice for Your Situation
Deciding when and how to claim Social Security is one of the most significant financial decisions you'll make in retirement. While the rules for those born after Jan 2, 1954, are more straightforward, they are also more restrictive.
For this group, the main decision points are:
- When to File: Do you file as early as age 62 and accept a permanently reduced benefit, or do you wait until your Full Retirement Age (or even age 70) to maximize your monthly payment?
- Coordination with Your Spouse: How does your claiming decision impact your spouse's finances and potential survivor benefits? The higher earner delaying their benefit can often result in a much larger survivor benefit for the remaining spouse.
For those born before the 1954 cutoff, the strategy is more complex but offers greater rewards. The key is to run the numbers. Calculate whether the spousal benefits you'd receive for a few years outweigh the permanent increase you'd get on your own benefit by delaying. This often depends on the difference in earnings records between you and your spouse.
Conclusion: Know Your Date, Know Your Options
Ultimately, the answer to "Can I collect on my Social Security then claim my spousal benefit later?" is a firm no for the vast majority of future retirees. The era of creatively splitting benefit claims is over for anyone born after January 1, 1954. For this group, financial planning must focus on optimizing the timing of their single claim. For the fortunate few who were grandfathered in, the restricted application remains a powerful tool that should be carefully considered. Always consult the official Social Security Administration website or a trusted financial advisor to analyze your specific circumstances before making a final decision.
