I’ve been saving up questions I’ve gotten from readers about benefits for spouses. It’s an issue I’ve covered a hundred times in this column. But the questions still keep coming. So, here is column No. 100—one about benefits paid to wives and widows—and occasionally, husbands and widowers.
Q: I am about to turn 63 and am thinking of starting my Social Security then. My wife is 67 and has been getting her own Social Security since she was 62. My benefit is significantly higher than hers. I’ve heard that if I do take my benefits at 62, my wife’s spousal share will be based on that reduced amount. But her widow’s benefit, assuming I pre-decease her, will be based on my full retirement benefit rate. Is this true?
