Factor 5: Spousal and Survivor Benefits

Your marital history deeply influences your Social Security strategy. The system provides spousal benefits that allow a lower-earning spouse to claim up to 50 percent of the higher-earning spouse’s Primary Insurance Amount, provided they claim at their own Full Retirement Age. The government automatically pays whichever is higher: your own earned benefit or your spousal benefit. You cannot receive both simultaneously.

Divorced individuals often overlook their eligibility for spousal benefits. If your marriage lasted for at least 10 consecutive years and you are currently unmarried, you can claim benefits based on your ex-spouse’s earnings record. Your ex-spouse does not need to consent, and your claim has absolutely zero impact on their benefits or the benefits of their current spouse.

Survivor benefits are even more impactful. When one spouse passes away, the surviving spouse is eligible to step up to 100 percent of the deceased spouse’s benefit amount if it is higher than their own. The smaller of the two checks disappears, leaving only the larger check in the household. Because of this rule, the higher-earning spouse should strongly consider delaying their claim until age 70. Doing so maximizes the survivor benefit, ensuring the surviving spouse has the highest possible guaranteed income for the remainder of their life.