Can I collect benefits on my husband’s social security, and defer mine

Q) I will be 62 in February, 2014. My husband who is 65 is currently receiving Social Security benefits. I have worked and have enough credits to receive benefits on my own. My question is: at 62, can I collect benefits on my husband’s social security, and defer mine until I reach the age of 66?

A) Good question. According to the Social Security Administration website,  at age 62, your benefit will be at 35 percent of your husband’s full benefit. read more information.

A spouse receives one-half of the retired worker’s full benefit unless the spouse begins collecting benefits before full retirement age. If the spouse begins collecting benefits before full retirement age, the amount of the spouse’s benefit is reduced by a percentage based on the number of months before he/she reaches full retirement age.

For example, based on the full retirement age of 66, if a spouse begins collecting benefits:

At age 65, the benefit amount would be about 46 percent of the retired worker’s full benefit;
At age 64, it would be about 42 percent;
At age 63, 37.5 percent; and
At age 62, 35 percent.
However, if a spouse is taking care of a child who is either under age 16 or disabled and receives Social Security benefits, a spouse will get full benefits, regardless of age.

If you are eligible for both your own retirement benefit and for benefits as a spouse, we will always pay you benefits based on your record first. If your benefit as a spouse is higher than your retirement benefit, you will receive a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse’s benefits.