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A. You can. Social Security will accept your application for early benefits when you're 61 years 9 months. Regardless of how old you are, the agency generally recommends that you apply three months before you would like the first payment to arrive.
A basic rule of Social Security is that once a person takes benefits at age 62, his or her payments are forever reduced in the future. When you reach your full retirement age at 66 and take your benefits, your wife can file for a spousal benefit.