by AMAC Certified Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor Association of Mature American Citizens Ask Rusty - Octogenarian asks about wife’s Spousal and Survivor benefits. Dear Rusty: I am now 80 and my wife is 76, and we both took early Social Security benefits at age 62. When my wife took her Social Security, it was a lot smaller than mine, so they took a portion of mine and added it to hers. How does that work? Also, when I die, will my wife get all of mine or just a percentage? Signed: Curious SeniorDear Curious: Social Security’s standard process is to pay a beneficiary’s personally earned retirement benefit first, and then add an additional amount as necessary to bring the payment up to what they are entitled to as a spouse, or as a surviving spouse. So, in your wife’s case, she is now (while you are both living) receiving her own earned Social Security benefit plus a “spousal boost” to make her payment equal what she’s due as your spouse. Your wife’s spousal boost was not taken from your benefit payment – you still get your own retirement benefit – but her spousal boost amount was computed by comparing the amount she was entitled to at her full retirement age (FRA) to 50% of your FRA benefit amount and then reducing her spousal boost amount because she claimed at age 62 (all Social Security benefits, except disability benefits, taken before FRA are reduced).Regarding your wife’s benefit as your survivor, since her own SS retirement benefit is smaller, if you die first the added “spousal boost” amount your wife now gets will stop and be replaced by a higher supplement which brings her total payment up to what she is entitled to as your surviving widow.As your spouse while you are still living, the most your ...