Ask Rusty: Can My Wife Get Her Full Spousal Benefit at 62, or Must She Wait?

Dear Rusty: I’m age 64 and my wife is 62. If my wife starts her own Social Security (SS) benefit now, she will receive about $700 on her own at 62. I will retire next year and claim SS when I am 65. The Social Security Administration (SSA) says my wife can draw $1,100 under spousal benefits, so if she claims now will the agency give her spousal benefits of $1,100, or does she need to wait until I claim at age 65 to get the $1,100? Signed: Trying to Understand Dear Trying to Understand: If your wife is now 62, then her full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security purposes is age 67, and if she claims any SS benefit before reaching her FRA, the amount will be reduced for early claiming. If your wife were to claim now (before you), she would get only her own SS retirement amount (the $700 amount), and that would be a reduction of about 30 percent from what she would get if she waited until her FRA to claim. Your wife cannot receive a “spousal boost” (an additional amount as your spouse) until you claim your SS retirement benefit (at age 65?). And her benefit as your spouse at that time will also be reduced because she will not have yet reached her FRA. If your wife is already collecting her own SS retirement benefit when you later claim, she will be given her “spousal boost” to make her benefit equal what she is entitled to as your spouse. But her total monthly benefit as your spouse will also be reduced because it will be awarded before her FRA. The only way your wife can receive her full spousal benefit from you is to wait until she is age 67 to claim Social Security. If she claims any earlier, her monthly amount will be permanently reduced. FYI, if you plan to claim at age 65, you should also be aware that your full retirement age (FRA) is also 67, and claiming at 65 will mean that you will get about 87 percent of the amount you would receive if you waited until age 67 to claim. Again, these reductions are permanent, except for normal cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) awarded annually thereafter. Having said all of that, deciding when each of you should claim your Social Security benefit is a matter of financial need, while also considering your life expectancy. If your life expectancy is short and/or you need the money, then claiming early is likely the right decision. But if your life expectancy is longer and you don’t urgently need the money, then you might both consider waiting longer to claim a higher monthly amount and receive more in cumulative lifetime benefits. Finally, please remember that whenever SS is claimed before one’s FRA, the SSA has an annual earnings test that limits how much can be earned by working while collecting early SS benefits. The earnings limit for 2025 is $23,400 and, if that is exceeded, the SSA will take back $1 in benefits for every $2 over the limit (it takes benefits back by withholding future SS payments). FYI, the earnings limit for those who claim SS early changes (increases a bit) yearly and goes away entirely once full retirement age is reached. So, if either or both of you are working, you should evaluate whether claiming your Social Security benefit early (before your respective FRA) is a prudent choice.                      

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Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org. Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained, and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.