Latest News
Social Security Fundamentals for Married Couples
Spousal benefits and survivor benefits are two of the murkier aspects of Social Security. Not having a clear understanding of the eligibility rules accompanying these areas can cause married couples to miss out on benefits that have been written into the program to aid in their retirement planning. A post on Yahoo Finance by The Motley Fool’s Katie Brockman examines several of these aspects, beginning with the basic factors governing how eligibility is determined, focusing on age rules (chronological age vs. filing age) and how individual work histories are considered in the process.
Ms.Brockman’s article, which you can access here, also illustrates the fundamental rules associated with benefits for divorced spouses, as well as the benefit provisions available for widows, widowers, and other family members in the event of a beneficiary’s death. Overall, a good primer but, if you have questions about how these basics fit with your personal situation, know that the AMAC Foundation offers a free service to help you. It’s called the AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisory Service, and you can learn more about it and how to access it here.