My wife was married for over 10 years, got divorced 12 years before we got married 4 months ago. I’m 57 ( max social security wages all my career) her ex spouse also has max SS wages. She was 61 when we got married. Her benefits are $500 at 62 ( now) and $700 at 661/2.
I know she can’t claim on previous husband but if she takes her benefits now, can she then claim half my benefits in 10 years when I’m 67 and full retirement age? Can she collect widow benefits from either spouse if one of us dies? If I wait to 70 to collect, how will that effect her?
Thank you so much for your help.

Hi,

Not exactly. If your wife files for her retirement benefits now, she'll keep the resulting reduction in her benefit rate even if she later qualifies for additional spousal benefits on your record. Once a person starts drawing their own retirement benefits that becomes their primary benefit for life, and any other benefits for which they subsequently qualify would be only be supplemental to their retirement benefits.

For example, say your wife's full retirement age rate (PIA) is $700 and she files now at a reduced rate of $500. If you file for your benefits after she reaches her full retirement age (FRA), her spousal benefit rate would be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of your PIA. So, if your PIA was $2600 for example, her spousal rate would be $600 (i.e. $2600/2 - $700). That would then be added to her reduced retirement benefit, resulting in a combined rate of $1100 (i.e. $500 + $600).

Since you and your wife married after she reached age 60, if her ex-husband dies before her she could potentially qualify for surviving divorced spousal benefits even if you are still living at that time. And if you die before your wife she could potentially become eligible for widow's benefits on your record. She couldn't draw both of those benefits at the same time, though, just the higher of the two.

Your wife's unreduced widow's benefit rate would be calculated by subtracting her own retirement rate (reduced or unreduced) from your full benefit rate, including any increases resulting from you waiting past FRA to start drawing your benefits. In other words, the surviving member of a couple generally receives the higher of their two benefit rates. Thus, if you increase your benefit rate by 24% by waiting until age 70 to start drawing your benefits, that would increase your wife's potential widow's rate by the same amount. This same calculation method also applies to surviving divorced spousal benefits.

You and your wife should strongly consider using our maximization software to do your Social Security planning.

Best, Jerry