Dear Mr Kotlikoff:

I am 72 years old and my wife is 58. My social security is near the maximum possible (45,000/year). I want to be sure that when I die my wife will receive my full social security amount. Can she take social security on her record at 62 with out reducing her survivors benefit when I die or should she wait until her FRA?

Gerald

Hi Gerald,

Filing for her own benefits at age 62 would not reduce the amount of your wife's potential survivor benefit rate. As long as she's at least full retirement age (FRA) when she starts drawing survivor benefits, your wife will be eligible for the higher of her own benefit rate or your benefit rate. If you were to die before your wife reaches FRA, your wife could choose to either a) start collecting reduced survivor benefits immediately, or b) wait until her FRA to claim unreduced widow's benefits.

Best, Jerry