Pension vs Spouses Social Security

by anon
(Massachusetts)

Hi,
Can I collect on my husbands Social Security if I am collecting my own retirement from a State retirement fund?

Wendy Social Security has nothing to do with earning and collecting a pension. Both are benefits you earned from the Federal Social Security and the State Retirement system, separately.

Having said that, you will get the higher Social Security benefit -- your full benefit or half of your husbands. Unless he made lots more than you, you'll likely draw on your own earnings instead. You will automatically receive the higher of the two calculations.

This is a very general answer.. I don't know your earnings, your ages, how long you've been married, so I just want to be sure you check with Social Security. They can calculate (and they MUST look at both calculations) to assure you get the highest benefit you are entitled to.