SmartAsset and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. My wife is 76, born in 1948. She retired at full retirement age and currently collects $1,076 per month. I will be retiring and start collecting at 70 this year (I was born in 1954). When I collect$4,000+ per month does her monthly payment go up to spousal benefit automatically or does it have to be claimed by us? Or is she not eligible for spousal benefit at all?   Thanks for what you do. – Randall Soci ...