The Social Security system serves as a crucial financial lifeline for numerous older Americans. One intriguing aspect of this system is the ability for a spouse to claim benefits based on their ...

How do Social Security spousal benefits work? My wife, who’s approaching age 62, has had a few small-paying jobs over the years, but spent most of her time as a homemaker. What is she entitled to?

Retirement can be challenging, even more so for stay-at-home parents who perform unpaid caregiving work while their spouses work outside the home. In August 2025, retired workers received an average ...

Your Social Security benefits won't cover all your expenses in retirement, but understanding how the program works and what levers you have to influence your checks can help you stretch your savings ...

Spouses with no work history can still claim Social Security benefits in certain situations. The spousal benefit can be as much as 50% of the retired worker's primary insurance amount. Spouses cannot ...

With much of a person's Social Security benefit depending on their earnings record, spousal benefits allow people with shorter or spotty work histories to still reap some benefits from the program. By ...

If you’re married or have ever been married, it’s worth considering whether spousal Social Security benefits should be part of your retirement plan. When a worker files for Social Security retirement ...

Married couples have a variety of different Social Security claiming strategies. Couples need to consider their retirement goals and health status. Both survivor and spousal benefits should be ...

Dear Savvy Senior: How do Social Security spousal benefits work? My wife, who’s approaching age 62, has had a few small-paying jobs over the years but spent most of her time as a homemaker. What is ...