Maximize Your Social Security as a Married Couple

Here's something most married couples don't realize: the way you coordinate your Social Security benefits could be worth $50,000, $100,000, or even more over your retirement. Yet according to a study by United Income, 96% of retirees leave money on the table by claiming at the wrong time.

If you're married, you're not just planning for one Social Security check. You're navigating a system that offers spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and strategic timing opportunities that single filers never see. It's complicated, sure, but understanding these rules could be one of the most valuable hours you invest in your retirement planning.

Let's break down exactly how Social Security spousal benefits work, and more importantly, how you and your spouse can claim strategically to maximize your lifetime income.

Important disclaimer: We are not certified financial planners or advisors. The information in this article is educational only. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor or Social Security expert before making claiming decisions that affect your retirement.

Think of spousal benefits as Social Security's way of recognizing that marriage is a financial partnership. Even if one spouse never worked outside the home or earned significantly less, they may be entitled to benefits based on their partner's work record.

Here's the core principle: a spouse can receive up to 50% of their partner's full retirement benefit (technically called the Primary Insurance Amount, or PIA). That's the amount your spouse would receive at their full retirement age, currently 66 to 67 depending on birth year.

Let's say your full retirement benefit is $3,000 per month. Your spouse could potentially receive up to $1,500 per month as a spousal benefit, even if they never paid into Social Security themselves.

But there's a catch (isn't there always?): to claim a spousal benefit, the higher-earning spouse must have already filed for their own benefits. You can't claim on someone's record while they're still waiting to file.

Let's look at three common scenarios to see how this plays out in real life.

Scenario 1: The Traditional Single-Earner Household

Maria stayed home to raise three kids while her husband Tom worked as an accountant. Tom's full retirement benefit at age 67 is $2,800 per month. Maria has no work history of her own.

When Tom files for benefits, Maria becomes eligible for a spousal benefit of up to $1,400 per month (50% of Tom's amount). If she waits until her own full retirement age to claim, she'll receive the full $1,400. If she claims early at 62, her benefit gets reduced to about $975.

Total household income at full retirement age: $4,200 per month.

Scenario 2: The Dual-Earner Couple with Unequal Incomes

Jennifer worked part-time as a teacher for 15 years, earning her own benefit of $900 at full retirement age. Her husband David's benefit is $3,200.

Jennifer has a choice: claim her own $900 benefit, or claim a spousal benefit of $1,600 (50% of David's $3,200). Social Security automatically gives her the higher amount, so she'll receive the $1,600 spousal benefit.

Here's what's interesting: Jennifer isn't getting $900 plus $1,600. The spousal benefit isn't added on top. Instead, she receives the higher of the two amounts.

Total household income: $4,800 per month.

Scenario 3: The Late-Career Switcher

Robert worked in corporate sales for 30 years (full benefit: $2,900), while his wife Karen started her career late but had 20 high-earning years as a nurse (full benefit: $2,200).

In this case, Karen's own benefit ($2,200) is higher than the spousal benefit she'd get from Robert's record (50% of $2,900 = $1,450). She'll claim on her own record and receive $2,200.

Total household income: $5,100 per month.

The key insight: Social Security always pays you the higher amount, whether that's your own benefit or the spousal benefit. You don't get to stack them.

Now we get to the really valuable stuff. The timing of when each spouse claims can make a huge difference in your lifetime benefits, especially when you consider survivor benefits (more on that in a moment).

Strategy 1: Consider Delaying the Higher Earner's Benefit

Every year you delay claiming past your full retirement age (up to age 70), your benefit grows by about 8%. That's a guaranteed return you won't find anywhere else right now.

For the higher-earning spouse, delaying can be particularly valuable because it increases not just their monthly benefit, but also the survivor benefit. If the higher earner passes away first, the surviving spouse steps up to receive that larger amount.

Using our Tom and Maria example: if Tom delays until 70, his $2,800 benefit grows to about $3,472. Maria's spousal benefit also increases to $1,736. More importantly, if Tom passes away, Maria will receive his full $3,472 as a survivor benefit.

Strategy 2: The Lower Earner Can Claim Earlier

While the higher earner delays to maximize benefits, the lower-earning spouse might claim their benefit (or spousal benefit) earlier. This provides household income while letting the larger benefit grow.

Going back to Jennifer and David: David delays until 70 to maximize his benefit ($3,200 growing to about $3,968). Jennifer claims her spousal benefit at her full retirement age of 67, receiving $1,600 immediately. They get income now while maximizing the survivor benefit for later.

Strategy 3: Understand the Earnings Test If Claiming Before Full Retirement Age

If you claim benefits before your full retirement age and continue working, the earnings test might reduce your benefits. In 2024, if you're under full retirement age, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefits for every $2 you earn above $22,320.

This particularly affects spousal benefit strategies. If the higher earner needs to claim early for the lower earner to receive spousal benefits, but they're still working, they might lose benefits to the earnings test.

Here's something crucial that many couples miss: survivor benefits are often more valuable than spousal benefits, and your claiming strategy should account for them.

When one spouse passes away, the surviving spouse receives the higher of their own benefit or 100% of their deceased spouse's benefit. Not 50% like with spousal benefits, but the full amount.

Let's return to Tom and Maria one more time. If Tom waited until 70 and his benefit grew to $3,472, then passed away, Maria would receive that full $3,472 per month for the rest of her life. Her own $1,736 spousal benefit goes away, replaced by the larger survivor benefit.

This is why delaying the higher earner's benefit is so powerful. You're not just maximizing their monthly check, you're maximizing the benefit that will sustain the surviving spouse, potentially for decades.

Consider these statistics: women typically outlive men by 5-6 years, and about 45% of women over 65 are widows. For many women, that survivor benefit becomes their primary income source in their later years.

The Survivor Benefit Sweet Spot Strategy

Some couples use this approach: the higher-earning spouse delays until 70 to maximize the survivor benefit, while the lower-earning spouse claims reduced benefits as early as 62. This provides some income during their 60s while ensuring the maximum possible survivor benefit.

When the higher earner eventually passes away, the survivor is already receiving benefits, so they simply switch to the higher survivor amount. They've essentially bought income protection for the surviving spouse's later years.

Mistake 1: Both Spouses Claiming at 62

This is the most common and expensive mistake. Claiming early permanently reduces both benefits by about 30%. For couples where one spouse is likely to live into their 90s, this can mean losing out on $100,000 or more in lifetime benefits.

Mistake 2: Not Coordinating Claiming Ages

Each spouse making an independent decision without considering the overall household strategy. Remember, you're optimizing for household income over potentially 30+ years, not just individual monthly checks.

Mistake 3: Forgetting About Taxes

Social Security benefits can be taxable. If your combined income (adjusted gross income + nontaxable interest + half of Social Security benefits) exceeds $32,000 for married couples filing jointly, up to 85% of your benefits may be taxable. Strategic claiming, combined with other retirement income sources, can help manage this tax burden.

Mistake 4: Overlooking the Impact of Divorce

If you were married for at least 10 years and are currently unmarried, you may be eligible for benefits based on your ex-spouse's record. This doesn't reduce their benefits or their current spouse's benefits. It's a commonly missed opportunity for people who divorced after long marriages.

Mistake 5: Not Getting Personalized Advice

Social Security rules are complex, and everyone's situation is unique. Online calculators are helpful, but they can't account for your specific health situation, other retirement income, life expectancy, and goals. A session with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security can pay for itself many times over.

Ready to optimize your Social Security strategy? Here's what to do:

Step 1: Get Your Estimates
Both spouses should create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You'll see your earnings history and benefit estimates at ages 62, full retirement age, and 70.

Step 2: Calculate Your Break-Even Points
Use Social Security calculators (the SSA website has them, as do many financial planning sites) to see at what age delayed claiming breaks even. For most people, if you live past your early 80s, delaying pays off.

Step 3: Consider Your Health and Longevity
Do you have health conditions that might shorten your life expectancy? Are your parents still living in their 90s? Your family history and current health should factor into your decision.

Step 4: Review Your Complete Retirement Picture
What other income sources do you have? If you have a substantial 401(k) or pension, you might use those in your 60s while delaying Social Security. If Social Security is your primary retirement income, you might need to claim earlier.

Step 5: Run Different Scenarios Together
Don't make this decision in isolation. Sit down with your spouse and model different scenarios: What if you both claim at 62? What if one delays to 70? What if you split the difference? Look at the cumulative benefits over time.

Step 6: Consult a Professional
Consider meeting with a fee-only financial advisor or a Social Security expert. The claiming decision is irrevocable (you can change your mind within 12 months, but after that, you're locked in). Professional guidance can help you avoid costly mistakes.

Social Security spousal benefits aren't just a safety net for lower-earning spouses. They're a sophisticated planning tool that, when used strategically, can add substantial income to your retirement years. The difference between a hasty claiming decision and a coordinated strategy could mean an extra $50,000 to $150,000 over your retirement.

The key is to think of this as a household decision, not two individual ones. Consider both spousal benefits during your lifetimes and survivor benefits after one spouse passes away. Model different scenarios. And don't hesitate to get professional help, this is one financial decision where expert guidance almost always pays for itself.

Your Social Security benefits represent decades of work. Make sure you're claiming them in a way that honors that effort and maximizes the security you've earned.