Social Security for Couples: Coordination Strategies

Married couples have more Social Security options than singles—but also more complexity. Coordinating your claiming strategies can add tens of thousands of dollars to your household's lifetime benefits. Here's how to optimize as a team.

Spousal Benefits Explained

Spousal Benefit Basics:

• Maximum: 50% of worker's PIA (at worker's FRA)
• Reduced if claimed before spouse's FRA
• Worker must have filed for their own benefit
• Available even if spouse never worked

Spousal Benefit Calculation

Your spousal benefit is the higher of:

1. Your own benefit, or
2. 50% of your spouse's PIA

You get the higher amount—not both added together.

Example:

• Your PIA: $1,000
• Spouse's PIA: $3,000
• Spousal option: $1,500 (50% of $3,000)
• You receive: $1,500 (the higher amount)

When Spousal Benefits Make Sense

Spousal benefits are valuable when:

• One spouse earned significantly more
• One spouse didn't work or worked part-time
• One spouse has much lower earnings history

Survivor Benefits Explained

Survivor Benefit Basics:

• Survivor receives 100% of deceased spouse's benefit
• Replaces survivor's own benefit (if lower)
• Can be claimed as early as age 60 (reduced)
• Full benefit at survivor's FRA

The Importance of the Higher Earner Delaying

Scenario:

• Spouse A: $3,000/month benefit
• Spouse B: $1,500/month benefit
• Spouse A dies first

If Spouse A claimed at 62: Survivor gets $2,100/month If Spouse A claimed at 70: Survivor gets $3,720/month

Difference: $1,620/month for potentially 20+ years = $388,000+

Common Couple Strategies

Strategy 1: Both Delay to 70

Best For:

• Both spouses are healthy
• Have adequate bridge income
• Want maximum guaranteed income

How It Works:

• Both claim at 70
• Maximum individual benefits
• Maximum survivor benefit

Downsides:

• Need significant bridge income
• No early income from SS

Strategy 2: Lower Earner Claims Early, Higher Earner Delays

Best For:

• Most couples
• Provides some income while maximizing survivor benefit

How It Works:

• Lower earner claims at 62-67
• Higher earner delays to 70
• Household has income while maximizing the "bigger" benefit

Why It Works:

• Get some SS income early
• Survivor benefit based on delayed higher benefit
• Balances income needs with maximization

Strategy 3: Split Strategy by Age

Best For:

• Couples with age gaps
• Optimizing based on specific circumstances

How It Works:

• Younger spouse waits for spousal benefit
• Older spouse claims to trigger spousal
• Younger spouse then claims own benefit later

Current Limitation: Post-2015 rules require that you file for all benefits simultaneously (deemed filing). This limits some legacy strategies.

Strategy 4: Claim and Suspend (Limited Use)

Post-2015 Rules:

• Can suspend at FRA to earn delayed credits
• Doesn't allow spouse to claim on suspended record anymore
• Limited utility for new claimers

Age Gap Considerations

Younger Spouse Significantly Younger

Considerations:

• Younger spouse may outlive older by 20+ years
• Survivor benefit longevity becomes critical
• Higher earner delaying is even more important

Older Spouse Significantly Older

Considerations:

• Older spouse may need income sooner
• Younger spouse has more flexibility
• Consider older spouse claiming at FRA

Same Age Couples

Considerations:

• Coordinate claiming ages
• Lower earner often claims first
• Higher earner delays for survivor protection

Divorced Spouse Benefits

Even if divorced, you may be entitled to benefits on your ex-spouse's record:

Requirements:

• Marriage lasted at least 10 years
• You're currently unmarried
• You're 62 or older
• Ex-spouse is eligible for benefits

Key Points:

• Doesn't reduce ex-spouse's benefit
• Doesn't require ex-spouse to have claimed
• Can receive up to 50% of ex's PIA
• If you remarry, you generally lose this option

Multiple Ex-Spouses

• Can claim on the ex-spouse with highest benefit
• Can't claim on multiple simultaneously

Special Situations

Non-Working Spouse

If one spouse never worked:

• Spousal benefit may be only option
• 50% of working spouse's PIA
• Working spouse must have filed first

Government Pension Offset (GPO)

If you receive a government pension from work not covered by Social Security:

• Spousal/survivor benefits may be reduced
• Reduction = 2/3 of government pension
• Can eliminate spousal benefit entirely

Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

If you have a pension from non-SS-covered work AND some SS-covered work:

• Your own SS benefit may be reduced
• Doesn't affect spousal/survivor benefits on spouse's record

Optimizing as a Couple: Step by Step

The Break-Even for Couples

For couples, break-even analysis is more complex:

Consider:

1. When does delayed claiming break even for the primary earner?
2. How does this affect survivor benefits?
3. What's the total household benefit over both lifetimes?

Often, the "break-even" that matters most is the survivor scenario.

Tax Implications for Couples

Combined Income Thresholds

Strategy: Stagger claiming to manage taxable income.

Roth Conversion Window

While one or both spouses delay:

• Income may be temporarily lower
• Opportunity to convert Traditional to Roth
• Reduces future RMDs and SS taxation

Common Mistakes Couples Make

Tools for Couples

Free:

• ssa.gov calculators
• AARP Social Security Calculator

Paid (Worth It for Complex Situations):

• Maximize My Social Security ($40)
• Social Security Timing
• Fee-only financial planner consultation

These tools model both spouses and survivor scenarios.

Case Studies

Case 1: Similar Earnings

Both spouses have similar FRA benefits (~$2,500)

Optimal Strategy:

• Both delay to 70 if possible
• Lower earner claims first if income needed
• Survivor will get ~$3,100/month either way

Case 2: One High Earner

Spouse A: $3,500 FRA, Spouse B: $1,200 FRA

Optimal Strategy:

• Spouse B claims at 62 ($840/month)
• Spouse A delays to 70 ($4,340/month)
• Survivor (either) gets $4,340/month

Case 3: Non-Working Spouse

Spouse A: $3,000 FRA, Spouse B: Never worked

Optimal Strategy:

• Spouse A delays to 70 ($3,720/month)
• Spouse B gets spousal benefit (~$1,500 at Spouse A's FRA)
• Bridge with savings until then
• Survivor gets $3,720/month

The Bottom Line

For married couples, Social Security is a team sport. The higher earner's claiming decision affects the survivor for potentially decades. In most cases, the optimal strategy is for the lower earner to claim earlier (providing household income) while the higher earner delays to 70 (maximizing both their benefit and the survivor benefit). Run the numbers together, consider both lifetimes, and don't leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table by making individual decisions.