PFRDA

Social Security when wife is older and is the lower income earner?

Wife made very little income and when she turned 62 - she signed up for SS - the monthly payments are very small. Now she is 66.5 and her husband is 62. He has always "paid the max " into SS. Can she reapply for spousal SS based on his income? If so - will she get 50% of his full retirement age SS or will it be reduced to about 35% because she started drawing early at age 62? Finally can she refile to get SS before he retires? He likes his job and plans to work for several more years. Thanks - I could not find older spouse examples on the web. If you can give a web site as reference that would be great too. I want my friends to go talk to the SS office but they don't think it worthwhile.

Public Comments

1. She cannot get any higher Social Security benefit. She should have waited until her full retirement age of 66 to apply. If her husband dies, and he has the larger benefit, she can get his widow's benefit but no one keeps both. A wife does not get part of her husband's social security unless he is dead or they are divorced and then she would give up her own and get a percentage of his. Husband's social security is his own and has nothing to do with wife's. Look at the widow or widower benefit on the SS website.