Can I collect half of my husband's Social Security at 70?

Yes, you can collect a spousal benefit that can be up to 50% of your husband's Full Retirement Amount (FRA), but waiting until he claims at 70 doesn't increase the percentage (it's always 50% of his FRA), though it increases his actual benefit which then boosts your spousal benefit if it's higher than your own earned benefit; the key is you get the higher of your own earned benefit or the spousal benefit (up to half his FRA). You must be at least 62, and if you claim before your own FRA, your spousal benefit is reduced.

At what age can a wife take half of her husband's Social Security?

Your wife can start collecting spousal Social Security benefits as early as age 62, or sooner if she's caring for your child under 16 or with a disability, but she must wait until you file for your own benefits; the full spousal benefit (up to 50% of yours) is only available at her Full Retirement Age (FRA), otherwise, it's reduced. Claiming early (age 62) gives her money sooner but permanently lowers the monthly payment, so waiting for her FRA or even age 70 (to maximize her own benefit if higher) offers more income. 

What is the maximum Social Security benefit for a married couple at 70?

For a married couple where both spouses wait until age 70 to claim in 2026, the maximum combined Social Security benefit could reach around $10,860 per month, with each person receiving up to the individual maximum of roughly $5,430, assuming they both earned the maximum taxable income for at least 35 years. This total is double the maximum single benefit, requiring each spouse to have a strong earnings record and delay claiming to age 70 for the highest possible amount. 

Do married couples get two Social Security checks?

Yes, married couples generally receive two separate Social Security checks, one for each spouse based on their own earnings record, or a higher spousal benefit if it's more than their own, but they don't get both amounts added together; the system pays the higher benefit, not double. Each person can collect their own retirement benefit, and if one spouse earns significantly less (or nothing), they can claim up to 50% of the higher earner's benefit, but the final payment is the greater of the two, not the combined sum. 

Does my wife wait to collect my half of Social Security if I wait till 70?

Spousal benefits are capped at 50% of the higher-earning spouse's full-retirement-age amount, even if that spouse can collect a higher amount by waiting until age 70 to file.

How do I get half my spouse's Social Security benefit?

What is the new law for Social Security spousal benefits?

The biggest recent change for spousal benefits is the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) of 2023, effective January 2024, which eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) for many, meaning spouses and survivors with government pensions won't have their benefits reduced as much, if at all. Key rules remain: spouses can get up to 50% of the primary earner's benefit, can claim at 62 (with reductions), or care for a qualifying child (no reduction). Deemed filing still means applying for one benefit usually means applying for both.
 

How do I switch from spousal benefits to my own at age 70?

To switch from survivor benefits on a late spouse's work record to retirement benefits on your own record, you'll need to file a new application. You should apply four months before you want your retirement benefit to start.

What is the best Social Security strategy for married couples?

Social Security tips for couples

• A couple with similar incomes and ages and long life expectancies may want to consider maximizing lifetime benefits by both delaying their claim.
• For couples with big differences in earnings, consider claiming the spousal benefit, which may be better than claiming your own.

When a husband dies does his wife get his Social Security?

Yes, a widow can get her deceased husband's Social Security as a survivor benefit, usually receiving up to 100% of his amount if she waits until her own full retirement age (FRA), or as early as age 60 (age 50 if disabled), or any age if caring for a young child, though benefits are reduced if taken early or if she earns over certain limits. She receives the higher of her own benefit or the survivor benefit, not both combined. 

Can I take my husband's Social Security instead of mine?

Yes, you can receive Social Security spousal benefits based on your husband's earnings, which can be more than your own benefit, but you'll get the higher of the two amounts (your own or up to 50% of his). To qualify, you generally must be at least 62 (or caring for a qualifying child), and your husband must have already filed for his own benefits. If your own earned benefit is higher, you get that; if the spousal benefit is higher, you get that combined total, but you can't "switch" to it later if you started on your own record due to rules changes (deemed filing). 

How much do you have to make to get $3,000 a month in Social Security?

To get around $3,000/month in Social Security, you generally need a high earning history, around $100,000-$108,000+ annually over your top 35 years, but waiting to claim until age 70 maximizes this amount, potentially reaching it with lower yearly earnings, say under $70k if you wait long enough, as benefits are based on your highest indexed earnings over 35 years. The exact amount depends heavily on your specific earnings history and the age you start collecting benefits. 

What is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding Social Security?

Claiming Benefits Too Early

One of the biggest mistakes people make is claiming Social Security benefits as soon as they're eligible, which is at age 62. While getting money sooner can be tempting, claiming early has a significant downside: your monthly benefit will be reduced.

What am I entitled to when I turn 70?

These include GP (family doctor) services, certain prescribed drugs, and public hospital services. The income limits for people aged over 70 are higher than the income limits for people aged under 70. If you are not eligible for a medical card, you may be eligible for a GP visit card.

Why isn't my wife's spousal benefit 50% of my Social Security retirement benefit?

The spousal benefit can be as much as half of the worker's "primary insurance amount," depending on the spouse's age at retirement. If the spouse begins receiving benefits before "normal (or full) retirement age," the spouse will receive a reduced benefit.

How do I apply for half of my spouse's Social Security benefits?

To apply for spousal Social Security benefits (up to half your spouse's amount), your spouse must already be collecting their own Social Security, you must be at least 62 (or caring for a child under 16/disabled), and you'll apply online at ssa.gov or by calling the SSA, providing documents like marriage certificates and W-2s, and accepting the "deemed filing" rule where you get the higher of your own or the spousal benefit. 

Can a wife collect her husband's Social Security while he is alive?

Yes, a wife can collect Social Security benefits on her husband's record (spousal benefits) while he is alive, provided she meets age/care requirements (usually 62+) and he is already collecting his own benefit; she'll get the higher of her own benefit or up to 50% of his Full Retirement Age (FRA) benefit, but claiming early reduces it unless caring for a young child. This doesn't lower the husband's payment, and she'll get her own benefit first if it's higher than the spousal amount, notes AARP. 

Why would a widow not receive her husband's Social Security?

If the widow does not wait until age 60 to marry, she cannot claim the widow benefit on her first husband's record. This leaves her ineligible for Social Security benefits for the first 24 months after attaining age 60. Assume that she files for the spouse benefit from her second husband's record at age 62.

What not to do when a spouse dies?

Top 10 Things Not to Do When Someone Dies

1. 1 – DO NOT tell their bank. ...
2. 2 – DO NOT wait to call Social Security. ...
3. 3 – DO NOT wait to call their Pension. ...
4. 4 – DO NOT tell the utility companies. ...
5. 5 – DO NOT give away or promise any items to loved ones. ...
6. 6 – DO NOT sell any of their personal assets. ...
7. 7 – DO NOT drive their vehicles.

How long do you have to be married to draw your spouse's Social Security?

To draw your spouse's Social Security, you generally must have been married for at least one year, be age 62 or older (or caring for a young/disabled child), and your spouse must already be receiving retirement or disability benefits, though the one-year rule has exceptions if you're caring for their child or were already collecting benefits on another record. For divorced spouses, the marriage must have lasted at least 10 years, and you must be unmarried when you apply. 

Can I collect spousal benefits and wait until I am 70 to collect my own Social Security?

No, generally you cannot collect spousal benefits and simultaneously wait until age 70 for your own Social Security due to the "deemed filing" rule for those born after January 1, 2016. When you apply for spousal benefits, you are automatically deemed to have applied for your own retirement benefit too, and the Social Security Administration (SSA) pays the higher of the two amounts. This means you can't "restrict" your application to just spousal benefits to let your own grow unless you are on a deceased spouse's record (survivor benefits) or if you were born before 1954. 

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 a month retirement rule is a simple guideline stating you need about $240,000 saved for every $1,000 of monthly income you want from your investments in retirement, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate ($240k x 0.05 / 12 = $1k/month). It's a motivational tool to estimate savings goals (e.g., $3,000/month needs $720k), but it's one-dimensional, doesn't account for inflation, taxes, or other income like Social Security, and assumes steady 5% returns, making a personalized plan essential. 

What does Suze Orman say about when to take Social Security?

Suze Orman strongly advises waiting as long as possible to claim Social Security, ideally until age 70, to maximize your monthly benefit, explaining that delaying provides a significant guaranteed annual increase (around 8%) and offers crucial inflation protection for a longer retirement. While some suggest claiming at 62 and investing the money, Orman counters that most people don't invest it and end up with less income long-term, emphasizing that a higher monthly check with cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) is a better, more secure financial tool, especially for the surviving spouse. 

Can my spouse collect her Social Security and then switch to spousal benefit?

Yes, a wife can often start with her own Social Security benefit (even reduced at age 62) and then switch to a higher spousal benefit later when her spouse claims, but this depends on when she files relative to her spouse and the "deemed filing" rule, which means if her spouse is already collecting, she must claim the highest benefit available (hers or spousal) at the time of application and generally can't switch later; however, if she claims her own smaller benefit first while her spouse hasn't filed, she can switch to the spousal benefit once he files, receiving the higher of the two. 

Why will some Social Security recipients get two checks in December?

Some Social Security recipients, specifically those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), got two checks in December 2025 because January 1st, New Year's Day, is a federal holiday, causing the January 2026 payment to be moved up to December 31st, resulting in December's payment (Dec 1st) and January's payment (Dec 31st) both landing in December. This is a standard Social Security Administration (SSA) practice for SSI payments, not a bonus, ensuring funds are available before holidays or weekends. 

What is the maximum spousal benefit amount?

The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of the amount that the spouse is eligible to receive at full retirement age. Survivors may receive up to 100% of the deceased spouse's Social Security benefit.