Week 48 Day 4: Spousal and Survivor Benefits: Protecting Your Partner

Marriage unlocks two critical Social Security features. Spousal benefits allow a lower-earning spouse to receive up to 50% of the higher earner's benefit at full retirement age, even if their own work...

Marriage unlocks two critical Social Security features. Spousal benefits allow a lower-earning spouse to receive up to 50% of the higher earner's benefit at full retirement age, even if their own work record would pay less. Survivor benefits allow the surviving spouse to receive 100% of the deceased spouse's benefit. These provisions make delayed claiming even more valuable for married couples.