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Thumb of Michigan | First a couple of terms: FRA (full retirement age, 67 for those born in or after 1960). Spousal benefit (1/2 of spouse's FRA benefit)
Knowing these terms, your wife can't get spousal benefit, UNTIL you apply for SS, if she waits she will get the GREATER of her FRA or her own benefit. Now, in either case she will take a permanent reduced benefit for taking benefit before her FRA.
IIRC, 30% reduction at age 62 on her own benefit, 35% if spousal benefit being claimed. Actual reduction is figured month by month, so every month she waits, reduction is less.
Here is the SS sites you might find helpful.
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/agereduction.html
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/calculators/
Other consideration, every year you wait AFTER your FRA, your benefit increases by 8% (24% for those who have a FRA of 67) verses a 30% reduction at age 62). E.g. a FRA of $1,000 would be $700 at age 65 or $1,240 at age 70.
With health issues, it's a tough call. In any case Medicare can start at age 65.
Good luck.
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