I am 64 years old and my wife is 63 years old.

1. We both qualify for our own social security benefits. Due to wage discrepancy between us, my wife will qualify for spousal benefits. Does the age my wife claims her own social security benefit effect her spousal benefits amount?

2. If I wait until age 70 to claim my social security benefit, does that increase my wife's spousal benefit amount?

Thank you

Hi. There's not really a yes or no answer to your first question. Your wife can't claim her own benefits first and later switch to just drawing spousal benefits if that's what you're thinking. Whenever your wife claims her own Social Security retirement benefits, she'll be deemed to also be filing for spousal benefits. That means she'd have to claim spousal benefits effective with the first month you start drawing your Social Security retirement or disability benefits, assuming that you start your benefits later than your wife starts her benefits.

Here's an example of how it works. Let's say Joy files for her Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. Joy's PIA, which is equal to the amount she'd be eligible for if she started drawing her benefits at full retirement age (FRA), is $600. But, Joy's benefit rate is reduced for age to $422 because she's claiming her benefits at age 62. Several years later Joy's spouse applies for his benefits, and his PIA is $2000. Joy's unreduced excess spousal benefit would then be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA, which in Joy's case amounts to $400 (i.e. $2000/2 - $600). If Joy is at least FRA when she becomes eligible for her excess spousal benefit, she would then be paid the full unreduced excess spousal amount of $400 in addition to her own reduced rate of $422 to give her a combined rate of $822. But, if Joy isn't yet FRA when her husband claims his benefit, then her spousal amount would also be reduced based on her age at the time her husband claims his benefits.

With regard to your second question, waiting until age 70 to start drawing your benefits would not increase your wife's spousal rate while you're living, but it would increase your wife's potential widow's benefit rate. Spousal benefits are calculated based on the worker's PIA regardless of when the worker starts drawing their benefits. But, if you die before your wife, she could be paid up to the higher of her own benefit rate or your full benefit rate including delayed retirement credits (DRC). Thus, by waiting until age 70 to start your benefits, you would be providing your wife with her highest possible survivor rate in the event of your death.

You and your wife may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully compare and analyze all of your various options so that you can determine the best overall strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry