Social Security & You: All About Spousal Benefits!

In the early 2000s, the Social Security retirement benefit trust fund was projected to last four decades. As of 2025, the latest Social Security trustee report states the fund is down to less than ten years before it is fully depleted.¹

What does that mean for the average retiree? Overall, Social Security has actually been doing well. Employment is up, meaning more people have been contributing to the fund. A drop from over forty years to less than ten may seem severe, but our government still has nearly a decade to make needed changes, and political pressure for action has been steadily building.²

Here’s more good news: if Social Security were to run out, it doesn’t mean that payments would come to a sudden halt. The program would continue to tax the income of working citizens and use that money for those owed a benefit. There is every reason to believe this would continue even if the Social Security Administration ran out of money to cover the gap between collected funds and distribution obligations. In fact, 62 percent of retirees state that Social Security is a “major source” of their income, meaning there is every reason to believe lawmakers will work to find a solution for those dependent on the program.³

The Facts About Social Security

We'll cover two topics below: first, what documents Social Security expects you to have when applying for benefits, and second, a quick guide to spousal benefits. 

Social Security involves many decisions, big and small! If you have questions about how Social Security fits into your retirement strategy, we should connect with you, even if you’ve already made claiming decisions.

How to Apply for Social Security Benefits

You’ve done the work. You reviewed and verified your earnings history on your Social Security account. You settled on what age you’ll claim, knowing how earnings and age impact your benefits. You’ve decided whether or not to apply for the spousal benefit. And now, you’re ready to apply by phone, online application, or physical appointment at a Social Security office.

Documents, Assemble!

Nobody wants the frustrating moment where a single appointment turns into two or even three. One approach to help manage any potential frustration is having your documents ready beforehand. Here’s a list of what you should expect to bring or have on hand for your Social Security claiming appointment. 

• Your Birth certificate must be the original or a certified copy. If you never established a birth certificate, you may be able to provide proof of age through a school record, state census record, vaccination record, insurance policy, or hospital admission record.
• Proof of citizenship: for those not born in the United States. Again, original or certified documents are required.
• Tax forms from the most recent year. A photocopy is fine! Tip: consider contacting your tax or legal professional before your appointment. They may have insights about what documents Social Security expects to see.

You should also be prepared to provide: 

• Dates and locations of your current and previous marriages
• Dates and branches for any military service
• Employer details for the past two years
• Details for any self-employment income
• Direct deposit banking information
• Names of any family members who may receive benefits based on your record

Milestones in Social Security History 

^{October 1950: Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) introduced
Source; AARP.org, September 23, 2024}

A Quick Guide to Social Security Spousal Benefits

In our experience, the concept of Social Security spousal benefits has created more inadvertent confusion than nearly any other Social Security topic! 

Let’s see if we can cut through some of the misconceptions. If you aren’t eligible for Social Security based on your own earnings history (or anticipate a small benefit), you may still be eligible for benefits based on your spouse’s earnings history, even if you’re now divorced or your spouse has passed. 

You may be eligible for the Social Security spousal benefit if you:

• Have been legally married for at least one year (or married at least ten before divorce.)
• Are at least 62 years old or caring for a child under 16 experiencing a disability. (The amount you claim may be permanently reduced if you don’t wait until full retirement age.)
• Your spouse must be receiving their benefits.

Remember that you cannot claim both a spousal benefit and your own! Social Security Administration will calculate both amounts but only pay the higher one. Similarly, your maximum benefit amount will be half their full retirement age benefit, even if they’ve delayed taking it and earned delayed retirement credits. 

Families, marriages, and earnings histories can be complex. Even if you have a relatively straightforward Social Security claiming strategy, the Social Security Administration has professionals who can speak to your specific questions. If you have questions about how Social Security fits into your overall retirement strategy, please don't hesitate to give us a call to discuss.

<sup>1. SSA.gov, May 7, 2024.
2. Rollcall.com, May 6, 2024.
3. EBRI Survey, 2024.</sup>