Spousal benefits
In many cases, a woman’s Social Security benefit as a spouse or eligible ex-spouse may be larger than her own. Normally, Social Security would pay the higher of the two benefits. However, individuals born before Jan. 1, 1954, have the right to claim only their spousal benefit at age 66 — worth half of their mate’s full retirement age amount — while allowing their own Social Security benefits to grow up to age 70. They can switch to their own benefit if larger. See www.socialsecurity.gov/planners for details.
