Social Security For Married Couples

Married couples get two bites at the Social Security apple — each spouse has their own benefit based on earnings history, plus a spousal benefit worth up to 50% of the higher earner's full retirement benefit. The optimal strategy for most couples: the lower earner claims at 62 to bring in income, while the higher earner delays to 70 to maximize the survivor benefit. When one spouse dies, the survivor collects only one check — whichever is larger. That makes the higher earner's delayed benefit the couple's single most impactful financial decision.