If the wife hasn't worked and is eligible for Social Security benefits based on her spouse's earnings, she can typically receive up to 50% of her husband's full retirement benefit if she claims at her full retirement age. However, if she claims benefits earlier, such as at age 62, her benefits will be reduced.
The reduction in benefits for claiming early is based on the number of months before her full retirement age she starts receiving benefits. For those born between 1943 and 1954, full retirement age is 66. For each month before full retirement age that benefits are claimed, there's a reduction of about 6.67%.
So, if her husband's full retirement benefit is $40,000 per year, and assuming she has a full retirement age of 66, and she claims benefits at age 62, her benefit amount could be approximately 35-37.5% of his benefit, depending on her exact birth year. This would result in a benefit of around $14,000 to $15,000 per year. However, this is just a rough estimate and the actual amount can vary based on individual circumstances and Social Security regulations at the time of application. It's always a good idea to check with the Social Security Administration for the most accurate information.
