I retired at age 62, not FRA of 65. I receive about $2100/ month before Medicare B is deducted. My wife will reach age 66 in December. She would receive about $680 per month based on her work experience. If she waited until age 70 she would receive about $900.
If she retires at 66, would she receive 50% of my $2100/ month benefit?
Thank you

Hi,

Actually, if you started drawing your benefits at age 62 and if your wife files for benefits at her full retirement age (FRA), she would get more than 50% of the reduced benefit rate you're collecting. Unreduced spousal benefits are calculated at 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount (PIA), even if the worker started drawing their benefits prior to FRA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA).

Based on the numbers cited in your question, your wife would not want to wait past her FRA to start drawing benefits. When your wife applies for benefits she'll be forced to file for both her own benefits and spousal benefits, and she can only be paid essentially the higher of the 2 benefit rates. From what you say, even if your wife waited until age 70 to start drawing benefits her own benefit rate would be less than 50% of your PIA. And, since spousal benefits do not increase if you wait past FRA to claim them, your wife would have nothing to gain by waiting past FRA to start collecting benefits.

Assuming that your wife does claim benefits effective with the month she reaches FRA, what she'll be paid is her own PIA plus an excess spousal benefit equal to the difference between her PIA and 50% of your PIA. Thus, her combined rate would then add up to 50% of your PIA.

Best, Jerry