06/17/2026
For married couples, Social Security isn't just about when you claim. It's about how you and your spouse coordinate your claims together.
Here's what that looks like in practice:
➡️If one spouse earned significantly more over their lifetime, delaying that spouse's benefit can pay off in two ways. First, it grows by roughly 8% for every year you wait past full retirement age, up to age 70. Second, it sets the survivor benefit. If the higher earner dies first, the surviving spouse keeps that larger monthly check for the rest of their life.
➡️The lower-earning spouse, on the other hand, may have good reasons to claim earlier. They can collect on their own record first, then switch to a spousal benefit worth up to 50% of the higher earner's benefit once that spouse files.
There's no single right answer. The best strategy depends on both of your ages, your health, the gap between your expected benefits, and what other retirement income you have available.
❗What is worth knowing: the decisions you make now are largely permanent. It pays to understand your options before you file for Social Security.
We are here to help you understand the pros and cons of various strategies. Give us a call!
