Hi, I am 73 and have been collecting SS since I turned 62. My wife will be 66 next April. Can she file and suspend until she reaches 70 and still collect Spousal benefits between 66 and 70? I know there have been some changes recently that may prevent this strategy but I've also heard that you can do this. If she can, what is her benefit based on, my current benefit or my full benefit if I had waited until age 66 to file? Thanks, Bill

Hi Bill, it would make absolutely no sense for her to file for and suspend her retirement benefit before filing for her spousal benefit. If she files for her retirement benefit, whether she then suspends it or not, and then files for her spousal benefit, she'll only be eligible for her excess, not her full, spousal benefit, which could be very small or $0. She could however file just for her spousal benefit at her full retirement age (FRA) and not file for her retirement benefit until 70. Her spousal benefit would be equal to 50% of your FRA retirement benefit, not 50% of your reduced benefit. Thanks, John