My wife's FRA is less than 1/2 mine. She is 2 years younger. If I wait until 70 to collect my benefit, can she claim her benefit at 62, then switch to a larger spousal benefit when she turns 68 and I have started claiming my benefit? It is my understanding she can't be deemed since I will not have started claiming when she applies at 62 and therefore will not be eligible for a spousal benefit. Or am I missing something. Please advise.

Hi,

No, your wife couldn't file for her own benefits at age 62 and later switch to spousal benefits. Once a person files for their own retirement benefits, that becomes their primary benefit for life.

What it sounds like your wife could do, though, is file for her own reduced benefits at age 62 and then file for a partial, or excess, spousal benefit when you file for your benefits. However, your wife would then be stuck with the reduction on her own benefit rate for as long as both of you are living.

For example, say Ann files for her benefits at age 62. Ann's full retirement age rate (PIA) is $800, but she chooses to take a reduced age 62 rate of $580. Six years later, Ann's husband files for his benefits with a PIA of $2000. Ann's unreduced excess spousal rate would then be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA, which in this case would be $200 (i.e. $2000/2 - $800). Since Ann is already over her full retirement age when she starts drawing the spousal benefit her excess spousal rate is paid at the unreduced rate. That $200 excess spousal benefit would then be paid in addition to her reduced retirement benefit rate of $580, making her combined benefit rate $780.

You and your wife should strongly consider using our maximization software to explore and compare all of your various filing options in order to determine the best overall strategy for claiming your benefits.

Best, Jerry