The Complexities of Spousal Benefits
One of the questions most frequently fielded by the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory staff is the deceptively simple, “What benefits are available to my spouse?” And, like so many questions related to Social Security, the answer is an equally simple, “It depends.” In a post on www.tribstar.com, Social Security District Manager Amy L. Long explains some of the reasons why the answer to this general question is not that simple. Read Ms. Long’s post here.
The search function included in this website can also connect you to dozens of informative posts covering the details of spousal benefits, from the implications of divorce and remarriage to the rules for deceased spouse situations. Simply enter the term “spousal” in the search space in the upper right, and you’ll be pointed to a wealth of relevant information. Our Q&A series, “Ask Rusty,” also presents a number of documented details on spousal benefit situations. While you’ll see these popping up in your search results, here are links to just a few to give you perspective on these special situations:
- Maximizing Spousal Benefits
- Will I Get Spousal Benefits?
- Spousal and Survivor Benefits
- Legal Non-Citizen Resident Gets Spousal Benefits
- Computing Spousal Benefits
You’ll quickly find that the area of spousal benefits is somewhat complex, depending on your individual situation. If you’re not sure of the path you should take, you may want to contact the AMAC Foundation’s Social Security Advisory Service. This free-to-the-public service features trained and certified Advisors standing by to respond to your questions and interpret the rules according to your personal circumstances. Learn more about this service via the Foundation website.