My wife took her own retirement benefit in Feb 2015 at the age of 62. I was over FRA at the time and filed a restricted application for spousal benefits only immediately after she filed and drew a spousal benefit until I filed for my own retirement benefit in Dec 2017 at age 69 yrs, 3 mo. When should she apply for her spousal benefit in order to get the largest check...now or when she reaches her FRA (66) in Jan 2019? Or does it make a difference in the check amount when she applies? How will it be calculated? Her PIA is $938; mine is $2154. Thanks.

Hi,

To get her highest monthly spousal amount, your wife would want to file effective with the month she reaches her full retirement age (FRA) of 66. Your wife's unreduced spousal rate will be calculated by subtracting her PIA (primary insurance amount) from 50% of your PIA, but if she starts drawing before FRA her rate will be reduced for age. If she started drawing 9 months prior to FRA, for example, the reduction would amount to roughly 6.33%.

Best, Jerry