No. Each spouse can claim their own retirement benefit based solely on their individual earnings history. You can both collect your full amounts at the same time. Say you and your mate both claimed Social Security at full retirement age.

Can you collect your Social Security plus spouse benefits?

En español | Technically, yes, you can receive both spousal benefits and your own retirement payment. That’s because when you are eligible for two kinds of benefit, Social Security does not combine them but rather compares one to the other. If your retirement benefit is higher, you receive that amount.

Each spouse can claim their own retirement benefit based solely on their individual earnings history. You can both collect your full amounts at the same time. Say you and your mate both claimed Social Security at full retirement age.

Is the wife of a retired teacher eligible for Social Security?

My wife is a retired California teacher receiving a State Teachers’ Retirement System (STRS) pension. She has not paid into Social Security. I am eligible to collect Social Security.

How does Teacher Retirement System pension and social security work?

If they worked in Arkansas (where teachers participate in Social Security) for at least 10 years and then taught in Texas (where teachers do not participate in Social Security), they would qualify for both Social Security and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

Can a teacher draw both social security and TRS?

Many teachers and school district employees are told by their school districts, “No, they cannot draw both.” That answer isn’t necessarily correct. For you to draw both TRS pension and partial Social Security benefits two conditions will allow this to happen: 1. You must be qualified to receive your own benefits.

Is there a reduction in Social Security benefits for teachers?

This may surprise you but your Social Security statement does not reflect any reduction in benefits due to your teacher’s pension. They’ll wait until you file to tell you what the reduction is if you qualify for both a teacher’s retirement and Social Security benefits.