Why Married Retirees May Be Missing Out on Social Security Income

Many married couples approach Social Security as if it were one joint decision, picking a single filing age and claiming together. That may seem straightforward, but the two benefits can affect each other for as long as either spouse is alive, which is why different claiming strategies may be needed.

Without that coordination, a surviving spouse could end up with less income for years. Here is how married couples can time benefits differently to help maximize retirement income.

Why one claiming age affects both spouses

When one spouse dies, the survivor does not receive both checks. If you are eligible for both a survivor benefit and another retirement benefit, the Social Security Administration pays whichever amount is larger rather than combining them.

That makes the higher earner's claiming age especially important. In most cases, the surviving spouse receives 100% of what the worker was collecting at full retirement age, or FRA. If the worker claimed early and accepted a reduced benefit, the survivor benefit is based on that lower amount. In other words, the higher earner's choice can set the income floor for the spouse who lives longer.

According to the SSA, a married couple at age 65 has a 50/50 chance that one spouse will live past 90.

Why the higher earner may want to wait until 70

For every full year you delay claiming beyond FRA, your benefit rises by 8%. That increase stops at age 70. For example, a worker with a $2,000 monthly benefit at an FRA of 67 would receive $1,400 a month by claiming at 62, or $2,480 by waiting until 70.

That larger benefit may become the survivor benefit, so delaying can act like a form of life insurance for the spouse who outlives the other.

The lower earner's calculation is different. That smaller benefit is the one most likely to disappear after the first death, so claiming it earlier may make sense. It can help cover expenses while the larger benefit continues to grow.

That is why claiming both benefits at the same age can leave money on the table.

Spousal benefit rules couples often misunderstand

These spousal benefit rules often cause confusion:

• They top out at FRA: A spouse can receive up to 50% of the worker's FRA benefit. If your FRA is 67, claiming at 62 reduces that amount by 32.5%.
• They do not earn delayed credits: Waiting past FRA does not increase a spouse's benefit, and spousal benefits do not include delayed retirement credits.
• The worker usually must file first: The current spouse cannot receive spousal benefits until the worker has applied for retirement benefits.
• Applying for one may mean applying for both: If you were born on or after January 2, 1954, and you qualify for your own benefit and a spousal benefit, filing for one is treated as filing for both. The SSA calls this "deemed filing."

Other coordination issues to keep in mind

Beyond deciding when each spouse should claim Social Security, couples should also watch for other rules that can affect benefits.

Working while collecting

If one spouse keeps working while receiving Social Security before reaching FRA, the earnings test can temporarily reduce benefits.

In 2026, someone who has not reached FRA for the full year can earn $24,480 before the earnings test applies. Above that level, the SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned.

In the year you reach FRA, the limit is $65,160, and the SSA withholds $1 for every $3 above that amount. Once you reach FRA, the earnings test no longer applies.

You do not lose those withheld benefits forever because the SSA recalculates your benefit at FRA. But a worker's earnings above the limit can reduce benefits paid to family members on that record, while a spouse's own earnings affect only that spouse's benefit.

Taxes on combined income

The SSA defines combined income as adjusted gross income plus nontaxable interest and half of your Social Security benefits. If you file jointly, you may owe tax on up to 50% of your benefits when combined income falls between $32,000 and $44,000, and up to 85% if it is above $44,000.

Divorced-spouse benefits

An ex-spouse who was married for at least 10 years, is at least 62, and is unmarried may claim benefits on a former partner's record. If you have been divorced for at least two consecutive years and both of you are at least 62, you may collect even if your ex has not filed yet. These benefits do not reduce what your ex or that person's current spouse receives.

When claiming earlier may make more sense

Delaying Social Security is not the right move for every couple. Claiming earlier may be more practical if:

• Both spouses have health concerns: If neither expects a long retirement, there may not be enough time for a larger check to pay off later. But if the higher earner is in poor health, waiting could still help protect the survivor.
• There is a large age gap: If the higher earner is much younger, that spouse is more likely to outlive the other and keep his or her own benefit, which reduces the value of delaying for survivor protection. Waiting can also leave the older, lower-earning spouse without the larger payment for years.
• There is no income to bridge the gap: Waiting until 70 means covering expenses with savings, work income, or other sources. Without that cushion, an earlier claim may help preserve savings and avoid debt.

Bottom line

Because Social Security claims are linked, couples may want to make the decision together. Start by getting personalized estimates for both spouses through a my Social Security account, then compare scenarios in which the higher earner claims at different ages and the lower earner claims sooner.

Review each plan based on the possibility that one spouse dies first, not just the years when both are alive. Even the month you retire and begin benefits can affect what you and your family receive, so it may be wise to check with the SSA before either spouse files.