I am almost two years younger than my wife, but was the primary breadwinner. I don’t plan to take SS until 70. Can my wife take her limited SS on her earnings at 62, then, when I take my SS she bumps up to 1/2 my FRA amount? We don’t want to do anything foolish like lock her in to a lower amount forever.

Hi. No. Once a person starts drawing their own Social Security retirement benefits, those benefits continue for life. Your wife could file for her own benefits at age 62 and then file for an excess spousal benefit when you start drawing your benefits, but she'd keep any reduction for age applicable to her own benefit rate for at least as long as both of you are living.

For example, say Joy files for her Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. Joy's PIA, which is equal to the amount she'd be eligible for if she started drawing her benefits at full retirement age (FRA), is $600. But, Joy's benefit rate is reduced for age to $422 because she's claiming her benefits at age 62. Several years later Joy's spouse applies for his benefits, and his PIA is $2000. Joy's unreduced excess spousal benefit would then be calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her husband's PIA, which in Joy's case amounts to $400 (i.e. $2000/2 - $600). If Joy is at least FRA when she becomes eligible for her excess spousal benefit, she would then be paid the full unreduced excess spousal amount of $400 in addition to her own reduced rate of $422 to give her a combined rate of $822.

So, assuming that 50% of your PIA is higher than your wife's PIA, the only way that she'd get a full half of your PIA when you start drawing is if she waits until her FRA to start drawing her own benefits. However, even if your wife starts drawing her own benefits at age 62, if she's at least FRA at the time of your death then she could be paid the higher of her own benefit amount or your full benefit amount as a surviving spouse. You and your wife may want to strongly consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to fully analyze all of your options so that you can determine the best overall strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry