Social Security Benefits for Retired Workers, Spouses, and Survivors – 4 Key Points Married Couples Should Know

Social Security is a vital income source for older Americans, yet there are often misunderstandings regarding benefits for spouses and survivors. A recent MassMutual survey revealed significant knowledge gaps among adults approaching retirement. Here’s what married couples should understand about Social Security benefits to ensure they don’t miss out on substantial income.

Spouses

Spouses can claim Social Security benefits based on their partner’s work record, even if they have no personal earnings history. To qualify, the spouse must be at least 62 years old, the partner must be receiving Social Security benefits, and the couple must have been married for at least one year.

Spouses are entitled to either their own Social Security benefits or spousal benefits, whichever is higher, but they cannot receive both. It’s important to understand that while delaying retirement benefits can earn delayed retirement credits, increasing benefits by 8% per year until age 70, this does not apply to spousal benefits, which do not qualify for delayed retirement credits.

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Maximizing Benefits

In order to determine the amount of spousal benefits, the main insurance amount (PIA) of the retired worker and the age at which the spouse makes the claim are both taken into consideration. If claimed at full retirement age, spousal benefits amount to 50% of the partner’s PIA. Claiming before full retirement age will reduce the benefit amount.

Here’s how the benefits are adjusted based on different birth years and claiming ages:

Birth Year	Full Retirement Age	Benefit at Age 62
1943-1954	66	35%
1955	66 and 2 months	34.5%
1956	66 and 4 months	34.1%
1957	66 and 6 months	33.7%
1958	66 and 8 months	33.3%
1959	66 and 10 months	32.9%
1960 and later	67	32.5%

Claiming spousal benefits at full retirement age guarantees the maximum possible payout. Since spousal benefits do not accrue delayed retirement credits, there is no benefit to delaying beyond full retirement age.

Widows and Widowers

Widows and widowers can choose to collect either their own retirement benefits or survivor benefits, but not both. Survivor benefits are based on the deceased spouse’s benefit amount and can be claimed as early as age 60, though at a reduced rate.

To receive the maximum survivor benefits, they should be claimed at full retirement age, which equals 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefit. Claiming earlier will result in a reduction, with the lowest possible payout starting at age 60, where survivors receive 71.5% of the deceased spouse’s benefit.

Divorced Spouses

Divorced spouses can claim Social Security benefits based on their ex-partner’s work record if they meet certain criteria: they must be at least 62 years old, the marriage must have lasted at least 10 years, and they must remain unmarried.

Unlike married couples, divorced spouses can receive benefits even if their ex-partner has not filed for Social Security. Additionally, the benefits that divorced spouses receive do not impact the ex-partner’s benefits, and the ex-partner is not notified of the claim.

Avoiding Misunderstandings

Misunderstandings about Social Security benefits can result in missed opportunities for maximizing retirement income. Here’s a summary of common misconceptions and the facts:

• Spouses Without an Earnings History: They can receive benefits based on their partner’s work record.
• Surviving Spouses: They do not receive both their own benefits and their deceased spouse’s full benefits.
• Divorced Spouses: They can claim benefits based on their ex-partner’s earnings record.

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