Ask Rusty – Can my wife get her full spousal benefit at 62, or must she wait?

Dear Rusty: I’m 64 and my wife is 62. If my wife starts her own benefit now, she will get about $700 on her own at 62. I will retire next year and claim Social Security when I am 65. SSA says my wife can draw $1,100 under spousal benefits, so if she claims now will they give her spousal benefits of $1,100, or does she need to wait until I claim at age 65 to get the $1,100? Signed: Trying to Understand

Dear Trying: If your wife is now 62, then her full retirement age (FRA) for Social Security purposes is age 67, and if she claims any SS benefit before reaching her FRA, the amount will be reduced for early claiming. If your wife were to claim now (before you), she would get only her own SS retirement amount (the $700 amount), and that would be a reduction of about 30% from what she would ge