Ask Larry

Is There A Way For My Wife And I To Get More Because Of Our Age Difference?

My wife is taking ss at 62 $960/m and i am 80 and getting 2057/m. Is there a way to get more because of our age difference?

Hi. There's nothing specific to your and your wife's age difference that would make you eligible for higher benefits under the Social Security law. Your wife could only qualify for spousal benefits while you're living if 50% of your primary insurance amount (PIA) is higher than your wife's PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA).

You don't mention at what age you started drawing your benefits, so I can't tell you whether or not your wife might qualify for spousal benefits. But, if your wife has applied for her own benefits and if she qualifies for spousal benefits, then Social Security should have required her to apply for both benefits. Therefore, it sounds as though you and your wife are likely getting all that you can from Social Security.

Your wife could have gotten a higher monthly benefit rate if she had opted to wait until a later age to start drawing benefits, but apparently she decided to she'd rather start drawing sooner at a lower monthly rate.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Mar 14 2021 - 2:58pm
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