3 Key Moves Married Couples Need to Manage Before Taking Social Security

Married couples can make a costly mistake by not understanding Social Security spousal benefits—especially in retirement, when every dollar counts.

Brian O'Connell

Published: 8/29/2026, 10:37:34 PM EDT

3 Key Moves Married Couples Need to Manage Before Taking Social Security — A couple in a stock photo. (Shutterstock)

Married couples can make a costly mistake by not understanding Social Security spousal benefits—especially in retirement, when every dollar counts.

According to the University of Michigan Retirement Research Center, 46 percent of surveyed adults know about Social Security spousal benefits. The same report noted that only 34 percent of U.S. retirees knew how spousal benefits are calculated, and just 27 percent of participants understood the eligibility criteria for spouses' benefits.

That's a big problem, since maximizing spousal Social Security benefits can be a key part of a solid marital retirement plan, and a strong action plan isn't a luxury for married couples but a necessity. Start that journey with these key steps:

1. Get Aware of Social Security Spousal Realities

The biggest challenge married couples face when deciding when to claim Social Security benefits is that they do not know how long each spouse will live.

“If they had this information, deciding when to claim benefits would be a simple decision,” Robert Steinberg, founder and CEO at Blue Chip Partners in Farmington Hills, Mich., told NTD News.

The best first step is to get benefit information for each spouse, which you can find at SocialSecurity.gov. “The goal is to maximize the lifetime benefits received by the couple,” Steinberg said. “Determining who and when to take benefits is complicated and will be impacted by many factors including whether spouses are retired, their health, and whether there are other assets available to cover expenses while Social Security is delayed.”

2. Married Couples' Plan Should Start Early

The spousal blueprint is actually simple. Determine which spouse receives the larger benefit, and have that spouse wait as long as they can (ideally until 70) while the lower earner claims as early as possible for cash flow.

“That's because the benefit amount depends on the amount that the higher earner receives, and the surviving spouse receives that benefit for many years,” Josh Katz, CPA and founder of Universal Tax Professionals, told NTD.

Katz said he’s seen too many couples take the higher check early so they can have it, but then the surviving spouse gets the lower check for the rest of their lives. “That's an error that can't be corrected,” he said. “That higher benefit is guaranteed for life, and it accrues 8 percent per year for each year the benefit is postponed, up to three years after full retirement age.”

The so-called "split" strategy works best for most of his clients, Katz noted. “The higher earner waits to age 70, while the lower earner begins at 62 or full retirement age,” he said. “The lower earner starts at 62 or full retirement age, and the higher earner waits until age 70. That means couples are getting income now and the big cash sum continues to grow.”

Married couples nearing retirement should access the free online calculator on the Social Security Administration website to create various scenarios. “It takes five just five minutes to do so,” Katz added.

3. Leverage These Survivorship Tips When a Spouse Passes On

A well-planned Social Security spousal survivorship plan is also a high priority for married couples.

“I wish more couples thought about it before they filed,” Kaylee McClellan, a financial advisor at Minnesota-based Innovative Planning, told NTD. “When one spouse passes away, the survivor doesn't keep both checks; they step up to whichever of the two benefits is higher, and the other one goes away.”

That scenario means the age at which the higher earner files isn't just a decision about their own retirement income; it's a decision about what their spouse will have to live on, potentially for decades, after they're gone.

Think of it as insurance for whoever outlives whom, McClellan said. “If the higher earner can afford to delay filing, every year they wait locks in a larger check for their own household now, and a larger safety net for their spouse later.”

On the logistics side of the SSA spousal survivorship issue, know that the survivor benefit can start as early as age 60 (at a reduced amount), “or as late as the survivor's own full retirement age for the full amount,” McClellan noted.

Don’t Make These Spousal Benefits Mistakes When Taking Social Security

The number one mistake spouses make with Social Security is filing early just because you can, without running the actual numbers. “I get the instinct,” McClellan said. “It's your money, so why not take it?

But filing early doesn't just reduce your own check. “If you're the higher earner, it can permanently shrink the benefit your spouse would eventually inherit as a survivor, which is a decision that outlives you,” she noted.

A big second mistake is not accounting for taxes. “Depending on your combined income, a portion of your Social Security benefit may be taxable, and couples are often surprised by that the first year they file,” McClellan added.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the interviewees. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. NTD does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. NTD holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.