Why this matters

For many couples, Social Security will be one of the largest, most reliable pieces of retirement income. When spouses have unequal earnings histories, the couple’s total lifetime benefit can vary widely based on claiming choices. Thoughtful planning — not guessing or defaulting to the earliest possible start date — can meaningfully increase household income, improve survivor protection, and reduce the chance of running short in later decades.

This guide explains the rules that matter, practical claiming strategies, common pitfalls, and a step-by-step checklist you can use when planning. It draws on Social Security Administration guidance and long-standing planning practices (see SSA resources listed below). It is educational only and not personalized tax or investment advice; consult a licensed planner for decisions that affect your situation.

Key rules that determine outcomes

  • Primary Insurance Amount (PIA): Each worker’s benefit is built from their top 35 years of indexed earnings and converted into a monthly Primary Insurance Amount. The PIA drives the worker’s own benefit at Full Retirement Age (FRA). (See Social Security’s Retirement Planner at ssa.gov/planners/retire.)

  • Full Retirement Age (FRA): FRA for most people currently falls between 66 and 67, depending on year of birth. Claiming before FRA reduces a worker’s monthly benefit; delaying past FRA increases it by Delayed Retirement Credits up to age 70.

  • Spousal benefit: A lower-earning spouse may be eligible for up to 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s PIA at the spouse’s FRA, if that amount exceeds their own worker benefit. Spousal benefits don’t grow with delayed credits in the same way worker benefits do.

  • Survivor benefit: When the higher earner dies, the surviving spouse may be eligible to receive the deceased spouse’s benefit (potentially up to 100% of the higher benefit). This makes protecting the higher benefit important for long-term household security.

  • Earnings test and taxation: If you claim before FRA and continue working, the Social Security earnings test may temporarily reduce your checks if earned income exceeds the annual limit; the SSA reconciles lost amounts at FRA. Benefits can also be partly taxable depending on combined income.

  • Restricted applications and file-and-suspend: Most of the older ‘file-and-suspend’ and unrestricted restricted application options were removed by law in 2016. A restricted application for spousal benefits is only available to very specific birth cohorts; verify eligibility on the SSA site before assuming it applies.

(Authoritative reference: Social Security Administration – Retirement Planner and Survivors Planner pages.)

Typical claiming strategies for unequal-earning couples

1) Classic split strategy (protect the higher earner, supplement with spousal checks)

  • Higher earner delays claiming to age 70 if financially feasible. Delaying increases the higher worker’s monthly benefit and therefore increases the survivor payout. Because survivor benefits typically use the higher earner’s benefit, this protects long-term household income.
  • Lower earner claims earlier if they need current income, or claims at FRA to maximize spousal options later.

Why it works: The higher earner’s larger benefit becomes the foundation for survivor income and spousal maxima. Delaying the larger benefit tends to compound household lifetime income, especially when the higher earner is healthier or expected to live longer. See the FinHelp article on Social Security optimization strategies for more modeling tips: Social Security optimization strategies.

2) Optimize for joint life expectancy (maximize combined lifetime benefits)

  • Use calculators (SSA’s calculators or third-party modeling tools) to estimate combined lifetime benefits under different claiming ages for both spouses. If both spouses are likely to live long lives, delaying the larger benefit can produce higher combined lifetime income.
  • If one spouse has a much shorter life expectancy, taking some benefits earlier might raise household short-term cash without sacrificing long-term survivor protection if the higher earner delays.

3) Spousal-first vs. worker-first nuance

  • If the lower earner would receive little from their own record, claiming a spousal benefit (when eligible) is often the more efficient route. But remember: a spousal benefit cannot be greater than 50% of the higher earner’s PIA at the lower earner’s FRA.

4) Consider pension coordination and other income

  • Pensions or defined-benefit plans can change the optimal Social Security strategy. Some public pensions may reduce Social Security spousal or widow(er) benefits through the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO). Check how pensions interact with SSA rules.

FinHelp has practical guidance on coordinating pensions, Social Security, and IRAs here: Coordinating Pensions, Social Security, and IRAs for Lifetime Income.

Example scenarios (illustrative)

  • Scenario A (protect the survivor): Jane (higher earner) delays to 70; Tom (lower earner) claims at 66. Jane’s delayed credits increase her benefit and the potential survivor benefit for Tom. If Jane lives to 90, the delay yields substantially more lifetime income.

  • Scenario B (need for current cash): Higher earner delays to 68, lower earner claims at 62 to provide immediate cash for health expenses. The household accepts a slightly lower survivor outcome in exchange for present needs.

Numbers in examples vary by record and should be modeled. Use the SSA calculators and consider a financial planner for complex situations.

Common pitfalls and mistakes

  • Relying on “rules of thumb” only: Every couple’s earnings, ages, health outcomes, other income, and tax situation change the math. Do the modeling.

  • Forgetting survivor needs: Choosing the claiming strategy that maximizes the higher earner’s benefit can materially improve the surviving spouse’s standard of living.

  • Overlooking pension offsets (WEP/GPO): Public pensions can shrink Social Security benefits; ignoring them leads to unpleasant surprises.

  • Using outdated tactics: The file-and-suspend and broad restricted application techniques were largely eliminated in 2016. Don’t assume old strategies still apply.

Step-by-step checklist for couples

  1. Get each spouse’s Social Security Statement and projected benefit amounts from ssa.gov/myaccount or the Retirement Planner.
  2. Record each person’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), current age, and Full Retirement Age (FRA).
  3. Model multiple claiming ages for each spouse (62, FRA, 70) and compare combined lifetime benefits and survivor benefits using SSA or third-party calculators.
  4. Factor in non-Social Security income (pensions, IRAs required minimum distributions, part-time wages) and taxes.
  5. Check eligibility rules for restricted applications or special strategies (birthdate cutoffs) on SSA.gov.
  6. Make a decision, write it down, and periodically revisit if health, marriage status, or finances change.

Tools and calculators to use

  • SSA Retirement Estimator and Retirement Planner (ssa.gov/planners/retire) — official projections and modeling guidance.
  • Social Security decision tools from reputable providers and planners; use ones that model joint and survivor outcomes and let you input health and mortality assumptions.

Interlinks and further reading on FinHelp

Frequently asked questions (concise answers)

Q — Can a lower-earning spouse switch from their own benefit to a spousal benefit later?
A — Yes. If a spouse first claims their own worker benefit and later becomes eligible for a higher spousal amount, SSA rules allow switching to the higher benefit in many cases. Check SSA guidance for your birth year and eligibility.

Q — Will delaying one spouse’s benefit always increase household lifetime income?
A — Not always. Delaying the larger benefit tends to protect the survivor and increase lifetime income in many scenarios, but couples with short joint life expectancies or pressing near-term expenses may see different optimal choices.

Q — What about working while claiming?
A — If you claim before FRA and have substantial earnings, the SSA earnings test can withhold part of your benefit. Those withheld amounts are not lost but can affect current cash flow until FRA when benefits are recalculated.

Sources and further reading

  • Social Security Administration, Retirement Planner and Survivors Planner pages (ssa.gov/planners/retire and ssa.gov/benefits/survivors).
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — guidance on retirement income planning and taxes (consumerfinance.gov).

Professional note and disclaimer

In my practice advising couples over the past 15+ years, the single biggest improvements came from modeling multiple claiming-age combinations and prioritizing survivor protection for the household’s primary earner. That approach is not universal — individual health, career, pension, and tax situations change the outcome.

This article is educational and does not replace personalized advice. For decisions about claiming Social Security, consult the Social Security Administration (ssa.gov), a certified financial planner, or a retirement-income specialist who can model your exact records and preferences.