There is even a 50% chance, they say, that totalretirementbenefits for a person who is now young will be 25% higher under the Bush plan than they would be otherwise.
In any case, it doesn't take more than just a few years before the total money accrued with the higher, later benefits surpasses the total earned starting at the earlier retirement age.
The total benefit your spouse will receive is her retirement benefit, inclusive of any reduction, due to taking benefits early, or increment, due to taking benefits late, plus the excess spousal benefit.