My wife is 16 years 4 months older than I am. We are... just lost. I don't even know how to ask the right questions. She will be 67 this August, and I am 50 and still working. She is and has been a homemaker most of our 27 years of marriage.

Help?

Brian

Hi Brian,

Assuming that your wife has fewer than 40 quarters of Social Security coverage (QC) then she likely wouldn't be eligible for any benefits based on her own work record. And, she can't qualify for spousal benefits until you start drawing your benefits. So, unless you become eligible for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits before age 62, that would likely be the earliest that you could file for benefits and your wife could claim spousal benefits.

If you die before your wife, she would already be old enough to qualify for unreduced widow's benefits. Her widow's rate would be equal to 100% of your primary insurance amount (PIA), which is equal to your full retirement age rate, assuming your die before applying for benefits and prior to your full retirement age (FRA).

Since your wife has already reached age 65 she could potentially apply for Medicare, but she'd have to pay premiums for that coverage. As long as she has health insurance coverage through your employer's group health plan, though, she can likely delay signing up for Medicare until you retire without being subjected to any late-filing penalties (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10043.pdf).

Best, Jerry