My wife will be 62 soon and her benefit if she decides to collect at that time will be $650 monthly. I am currently receiving disability social security of $2175 monthly, which was just granted. I am also 62. My social security before being granted disability was $1658 monthly. Since my wifes social security is less than half of mine I believe she would be given an amount equal to half of mine? My question is would that figure be based on my social security amount I received before being awarded disability or the larger amount of $2175. Thank you and have a great day!

Hi,

Your wife's unreduced excess spousal benefit would be calculated based on one-half of your full retirement age benefit amount (PIA), minus her own PIA. If she starts these benefits at age 62, they would be reduced by about 30%. Disability benefits are normally paid at the full PIA level, but your disability benefits may be somewhat lower than that if you received reduced retirement benefits for any months prior to your month of disability entitlement.

If your wife's age 62 rate is $650, her PIA must be about $866. The latter figure is roughly what she could expect to receive on her own record if she waited until full retirement age to file. If $2175 is your PIA, then her excess spousal benefit would be calculated as follows:
Step 1 - $2175/2 = $1087.50
Step 2 - $1087.50-$866 = $221.50 (this is the approximate unreduced excess spousal benefit)
Step 3 - $221.50 x .70 = $155 (this is the 30% reduction for starting at age 62)

Thus, she would be looking at a reduced excess spousal benefit of about $155, which would be added to her own reduced retirement benefit of $650 for a total monthly benefit of about $805. This figure could be somewhat higher if your PIA is more than $2175.

Best, Jerry