spousal benefits
A Quick Refresher on Getting the Most Out of Social Security
The maximum Social Security benefit as of this year is approaching the $5000 mark, but it’s unlikely that many beneficiaries will reach that level of payout. In fact, the average benefit for 2024 is $1,907 after the 3.2% cost-of-living adjustment…
Dealing With a Social Security Myth…The Claim that Too Many Get Unearned Benefits
You’ve probably heard the comment, or perhaps seen it on a social media site…Social Security would be in better shape if people who haven’t contributed would stop getting benefits (or some version of the same argument). As discussed in a…
Underscored: The Importance of Understanding Claiming Strategies
In situations where married couples have a disparity in their ages and, therefore, in their strategy options for claiming Social Security benefits, it becomes critical to know the rules. ThinkAdvisor reporter John Manganaro offers a quick recap of a situation…
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…
Understanding Social Security’s Marital Benefits–An Important Element of Retirement Planning
Social Security can be a complex area, with its thousands of rules, regulations, and options that should be understood to make the best claiming decision for each individual’s situation. While there is the immediate option of spousal benefits and the…
Marital Status and Its Affect on Your Social Security Benefits
For those beginning to explore the Social Security benefits that will be available when they elect to claim, the issue of marital status becomes a pretty important factor. For example, benefits for a spouse may be available if the spouse’s…
Understanding Spousal Benefits…And Why They May Not Exist for You.
For married couples looking ahead to retirement finances, the issue of spousal benefits can become a major factor in the planning process. For this reason alone, it’s good to have a clear understanding of how the calculations work and what…
A Quick Refresher on Spousal Benefits
Although so much of Social Security’s rulebook involves complicated qualifications, there are a few very basic premises that anyone planning their retirement finances should know. Many folks are already aware of these basics, but it’s still a good idea to…
A Quick Review of Spousal/Survivor Benefit Rules
The general issue of which benefits are available to spouses and survivors contains some fairly explicit rules, so it’s always a good idea in financial planning exercises to be sure they’re well understood. The editorial staff at moneywise.com offers a…
Attention, Women: Some Rules You Should Know About
Social Security is, as most people know, gender-neutral. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t portions of the rulebook that women need to pay special attention to. Tom Margenau, a 32-year veteran of various positions with the Social Security Administration, offers…