Lifestyle

6 Social Security Spousal Benefits Most Couples Never Claim

By Erica Coleman · June 19, 2026

Social Security is the most important financial asset most American households have — and one of the least understood. The spousal benefit system in particular contains provisions that can add thousands of dollars per year to a couple’s retirement income, but only if both spouses know they exist and claim them correctly.

1. The spousal benefit — up to 50% of your partner’s record

If your own Social Security benefit is lower than 50% of your spouse’s full retirement benefit, you may be entitled to claim a spousal benefit that brings your monthly payment up to that 50% threshold. This matters most in households where one spouse earned significantly more than the other, or where one spouse spent years out of the workforce for caregiving. The spousal benefit doesn’t reduce your partner’s payment — it’s a separate benefit drawn from their earnings record.

2. Divorced spouse benefits — if your marriage lasted 10 years

A divorced spouse may be eligible to claim benefits on an ex-spouse’s Social Security record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, the claimant is at least 62, and the claimant is currently unmarried. The ex-spouse doesn’t need to know, doesn’t need to have filed, and their benefit is not affected. If your ex-spouse earned significantly more than you during the marriage, this provision could meaningfully increase your retirement income — and most divorced Americans don’t know it exists.

3. Survivor benefits — the most valuable and most overlooked

When a spouse dies, the surviving partner can claim the deceased spouse’s full benefit if it is larger than their own. Financial advisors consistently identify survivor benefits as the most underutilized provision in Social Security — and the most valuable for widows and widowers who outlive their partners by many years. The strategy implication: the higher-earning spouse should delay claiming as long as possible, because their eventual benefit becomes the survivor benefit the other spouse will receive for the rest of their life.

4. The delayed claiming strategy for couples

Each year a higher-earning spouse delays claiming Social Security past full retirement age adds 8% to their monthly benefit, up to age 70. For couples, this isn’t just about the higher earner’s monthly check — it’s about maximizing the survivor benefit the lower-earning spouse will receive after the higher earner dies. A couple where the higher earner claims at 62 versus 70 can leave the surviving spouse with a benefit that is 76% smaller than it would have been. The delay is an insurance policy for whoever lives longer.

5. Benefits for spouses caring for qualifying dependents

A spouse who hasn’t reached retirement age may still qualify for Social Security benefits if they are caring for a child under 16 or a disabled child who receives Social Security benefits. This provision is frequently missed by younger families where one parent is the primary caregiver. The benefit is equal to up to 50% of the working spouse’s primary insurance amount and does not reduce the working spouse’s own benefit.

6. The “claim now, claim more later” strategy for lower earners

In some circumstances, a lower-earning spouse can claim their own reduced benefit early — at 62 — and then switch to the higher spousal benefit at full retirement age. This strategy works when the lower earner’s own benefit is significantly smaller than 50% of the higher earner’s record and when the higher earner has already filed or plans to file. The Social Security Administration eliminated most double-dipping strategies in 2015, but this particular approach remains available for eligible couples. A Social Security benefits calculator or a consultation with a financial advisor can determine whether the math works for your specific situation.