This is regarding Spousal benefit application
I got approved for my benefit from Jan 2022. I will get 1st check in the 4th week of Feb 2022.
My wife got approved, prior to me, for her benefit from Feb 2022 and will receive her 1st check in the 3rd week of Mar 2022). This is based on her earnings record.
Based on my rough calculations, she may be able to get more thru spousal benefit because of my higher PIA/FRA.
If she applies (online) for spousal benefit this month (Jan 2022), can she state in her application that I am receiving SS benefit, although my 1st check itself will only arrive in the 4th week of Feb as I already mentioned above?

Thanks,

Hi. Yes, as long as you've applied for your benefits your wife can apply for spousal benefits. Your benefits needn't have already started in order for your wife to be able to apply for spousal benefits. However, she'll only qualify for spousal benefits if your primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as much as her own PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA).

Actually, if your wife was born after January 1 1954 and if your PIA is more than twice as much as her PIA, then she's already deemed to have filed for spousal benefits based on her application for her own retirement benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/claiming.html). She would, however, still need to complete a separate application for spousal benefits since you apparently applied for your benefits after she applied for her benefits.

By the way, you and your wife may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze all of your options in order to make sure that you're choosing the best possible filing strategy to maximize your benefits.

Best, Jerry