Ask Larry

I am 71, retired for 2 years and started receiving my ss at my full eligibility age of 65 and 1/2 ( I believe). My wife still works and turns 66 next month (3/3/51). Which is her full retirement age. We want her to file for Spousal Benefits. The question is: 1/2 of my benefits is slightly lower than what she is currently eligible for if she filed under her work history, can we chose
the spousal benefit or will they require her to file under her own rather then waiting?

Hi,

Since your wife was born prior to January 2 1954, she can file a restricted application for spousal benefits only at age 66 without also filing for benefits on her own record. That way, she can let her own benefit rate grow until age 70, and then switch to her own record at that time. It sounds like that's almost certainly her best filing strategy, but you may want to consider running the maximization software available on this website in order to be sure.

Best, Jerry