My wife turns 70 on October 30. She has been collecting spousal based on my benefits (I’m 72). When should she submit an application to collect based on her own earnings? Thanks.

Hi,

Assuming that your wife's own Social Security retirement benefit rate is higher than her spousal rate and if she wants to claim her benefits at age 70, she'll want to claim her benefits effective with October. Social Security allows you to apply up to 4 months in advance, so your wife could file her application as early as June. She doesn't need to file that soon, though, and she could actually file as late as April of next year and still be able to claim her benefits retroactive to October.

Best, Jerry