I am born October 1953 and plan to take SSB January 2021 (at 67y+3mo, 1y+3mo after my FRA). My wife is born May 1959 and her FRA is 66y+10mo or April 2026.
Can she take her own SSB when she turns 62 (May 2021), then take spousal benefits (50% of my PIA), at her FRA on April 2026?
Thanks

Hi,

No, she can't. Since your wife was born after January 1 1954 she'll be deemed to be filing for both her own Social Security retirement benefits and spousal benefits whenever she applies for either benefit. She could then only be paid essentially the higher of the two benefit rates, and her benefit rate will be reduced for age if she starts drawing prior to full retirement age (FRA).

However, since you were born before January 2 1954 you would be allowed to apply just for spousal benefits without filing for your own benefits, but you couldn't be paid spousal benefits at least until your wife starts drawing her benefits. As an alternative to the plan you have in mind, you may want to at least consider having your wife file for her benefits at age 62 at which point you could then file just for spousal benefits. You could then potentially collect spousal benefits while allowing your own benefit rate to grow until you reach age 70. When you reach age 70 you could then switch to drawing your benefits, and your wife could potentially receive additional spousal benefits if 50% of your primary insurance amount (PIA) is higher than her own PIA. This strategy would also likely provide your wife with her highest possible survivor rate if you die before her.

I don't have enough information about your benefit rates and circumstances to know if the strategy described above would be optimal in your case. You and your wife should strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to analyze your various options so that you can determine the strategy that would be most likely to maximize your benefits.

Best, Jerry