3 Social Security Rules All Married Retirees Should Know

Core Insights - Social Security has specific rules that can impact couples, including spousal benefits and eligibility criteria [1] Group 1: Spousal Benefits - Spousal benefits can be claimed even if one partner has no earnings history, with a maximum value of 50% of the spouse's benefit at their full retirement age [3][4] - For example, if one spouse is eligible for $2,000 a month, the other can receive a maximum of $1,000 a month in spousal benefits at their full retirement age [5] - Claiming spousal benefits early results in a reduction, and the maximum benefit remains capped at $1,000 a month regardless of the other spouse's delayed retirement credits [6] Group 2: Claiming Process - A spouse cannot claim spousal benefits until the other spouse has signed up for Social Security [7] - The value of spousal benefits can increase if they transition to survivor benefits after the spouse's passing [8]