Hi Larry. I currently collect my social security as I have reached FRA and I still work full time. My wife is semi retired and is 63. By the time she reaches her FRA and by me collecting now, what affect will this have on her at that time if any. I still plan on working for a least another year.

Hi,

If your wife files for benefits at her full retirement age (FRA) she'll receive the higher of a) her own primary insurance amount (PIA) of b) 50% of your PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they file at FRA. Your wife could never file just for spousal benefits without also filing for her own benefits since she was born after January 1 1954.

If you continue working and you increase your PIA, that could also increase your wife's spousal rate assuming that her own benefit rate isn't higher than her potential spousal rate. Since you're over FRA you can earn any amount without having any benefits withheld, so if your wife qualifies for spousal benefits she could be paid those benefits no matter how much you earn.

Your wife should strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to explore and compare her options so that she can choose the best possible strategy for claiming benefits.

Best, Jerry