Hi there. I was born 4-22-1953. Can you tell me is my full retirement age 66 years 6 months or is it 66? Also I worked all my life and so has my wife. If I retire at 65 and she retires at 62 can you tell me is does she get her full amount that she would get at 62 or is her benefits reduced because we are married and I am already collecting? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Larry

Hi,

If you were born in 1953, your full retirement age (FRA) is 66. You are also grandfathered under the new rules on deeming (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/deemedfaq.html), so you have the option of filing for spousal benefits only at FRA, while letting your own benefit amount increase by 8% per year until you reach age 70. Your wife would have to be drawing on her record before you could get spousal benefits, though. You may wish to run the maximization software available on this website for a full analysis of your filing options.

There is no reduction of benefits resulting specifically from being married. If you and your wife qualify for benefits on your own accounts, they are calculated independently and paid at the same rates as if you were single. Anyone who starts retirement or spousal benefits prior to FRA is subject to a reduction for age, however, and the earlier you start drawing, the higher the reduction.

Best, Jerry