The Social Security Strategies Many Married Couples Miss

Ideally, once you retire, you won't end up living on just Social Security. Rather, you'll have other income streams available, like savings and investments, to help support your lifestyle once you're no longer earning a paycheck from work.

But Social Security might still play a very important role in your retirement finances. So it's important to claim your benefits at the right time. And if you're married, part of that means coming up with a filing strategy that works well for you as well as your spouse.

Some spouses claim Social Security independently of one another and miss out on opportunities to maximize their benefits, so here are some strategies you and your spouse should explore together before making your choice.

The lower earner files early while the higher earner delays

If you and your spouse are each entitled to a monthly benefit from Social Security, it's important to recognize that the higher earner's benefit could end up becoming a survivor benefit down the line. For this reason, if you're eager to start Social Security, you may want to have the lower earner in your household file for benefits early but have the higher earner delay.

Let's say you and your spouse are retiring at 62. That's the earliest age to claim Social Security, and it will result in reduced monthly benefits.

If the higher earner files early, you'll reduce your larger check. And if you're the lower earner and you outlive your spouse, you'll have a smaller survivor benefit. That's why it's often recommended that the higher earner delay their benefits past full retirement age (FRA), which allows them to accrue delayed retirement credits that result in boosted checks and boosted survivor benefits.

Those credits run out once you turn 70. But if you want Social Security income to start coming in at 62, then it makes more sense to have the smaller benefit start arriving then and the larger benefit start arriving later.

The higher earner files early while the lower earner delays

Having the higher earner in your household file early can be a poor choice if you expect that benefit to become a survivor benefit. But if the higher earner is likely to live longer than the lower earner, then survivor benefits may not be part of the equation.

In that case, if you need more money to cover expenses in the near term, you could have the higher earner claim Social Security early while the lower earner delays. This way, you'll be able to handle your bills, and you'll also get to boost the lower Social Security benefit so that it potentially catches up to the higher benefit.

Both filers delay

It's not necessarily easy to have both members of a married couple delay Social Security. In some cases, that could mean having to live very frugally until benefits start or having to work longer. But there are a couple of scenarios where it could pay to have both spouses delay.

First, delayed benefits are a great way to make up for limited savings. If you and your spouse weren't able to build up a nice IRA or 401(k) balance, larger Social Security checks could help compensate.

Secondly, if both spouses are likely to live well into their 90s, having both delay Social Security could make sense. You may end up with a much larger lifetime benefit at the household level by having both of you wait.

Both filers claim on time

You may have a decent amount of savings for retirement on top of Social Security to look forward to. In that case, a reasonable strategy may be to have both spouses file for benefits on time — meaning, at FRA, which is 67 if you were born in 1960 or later.

Claiming on time means you won't boost either Social Security check, but you also won't be looking at a reduction. If you have enough savings that you don't need a larger check than what you'd get at FRA, filing at that point allows you to start getting your money without having to wait too long.

Bottom line

If you're married, claiming Social Security without strategizing with your spouse is one of the biggest financial mistakes you might make. Having two sets of benefits gives you plenty of options for maximizing your Social Security as a couple, so it's important to take advantage.

Just as importantly, you must consider one another's financial needs and goals when making your claiming decision. So as you sit down to do your financial planning for retirement, take the time to discuss Social Security and run through different claiming scenarios. If you review your options thoroughly and get each other's input, you're more likely to file at a time that's right for you individually and jointly.

You May Also Like

$200 Bonus + Up to 5% Cash Back

Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Member FDIC

SPONSORED

Almost 80% of Americans Fear a Retirement Age Increase — Here’s the Real Reason Why

By FinanceBuzz Editors

10 Smart Money Moves to Retire

By FinanceBuzz Editors

The Easiest Way to Diversify Your Investment Portfolio With Fine Art

By FinanceBuzz Editors

7 Brilliant Ways to Build Wealth After 40

By FinanceBuzz Editors

5 Ways Seniors Are Throwing Away Money

By FinanceBuzz Editors

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of July 2026

By FinanceBuzz Editors

Save Money and Get Huge Discounts on Everyday Purchases

AARP Benefits

• Huge discounts on travel, groceries, prescriptions and more
• Access to financial planning resources and health tools
• Join AARP and get 25% off with automatic renewal

Become a member now!

---

Subscribe Today

Unlock the Best Banking Deals and Bonuses

From high-yield savings accounts to cashback checking and sign-up bonuses, we bring you the best banking offers to grow your money smarter.

or

SEE TOP BANKING OFFERS →

By submitting this form you agree to receive emails from FinanceBuzz and to the privacy policy and terms