Full question: Hi I’m 68 and not collecting Social Security yet. My wife 66 started collecting on her record a year ago. When I start to collecting can my wife step up to spousal benefit if it’s higher?

Hi there,

Yes, when you start collecting your Social Security benefits, your wife may be eligible to receive additional spousal benefits if 50% of your Full Retirement Age (FRA) benefit is higher than her own retirement benefit. The spousal benefit will be based on 50% of your FRA benefit, not the increased amount you will receive for delaying until age 70.

Please note that since your wife started collecting retirement benefits before her FRA, her amount is reduced based on the number of months she claimed early. This reduction will continue even after you file for your benefits so her spousal top-off will not be the full 50% of your FRA benefit.

For personalized support, you can work with an RSSA here.

Warmly,
Martha and team

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