Ask Larry

Can My Wife File For Spousal Benefits Now And Later File For Her Own Benefits?

I am 69 years old, born in 1948. I started collecting my FRA social security benefits at age 67 and am still working. My wife is going to be 67 in April. She is still working and has not applied for her FRA social security benefits. Can she apply now for spousal benefits from my social security and later file for hers.

Hi,

Yes, and it sounds like she would want to file for the spousal benefits without further delay. In fact, your wife almost certainly should have started drawing the spousal benefits as soon as she reached age 66. Spousal benefits do not increase if you wait past full retirement age to start drawing them, and filing for just spousal benefits only would not adversely affect your wife's own retirement benefit rate when she eventually files for those benefits.

Since your wife reached FRA more than 6 months ago and since you've been drawing your benefits during that time, she can and should claim 6 months of retroactive spousal benefits when she applies.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Mar 4 2018 - 11:24am
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.