Social Security Questions Married Couples Ask Before Retirement

Jeremy Keil answers three listener questions that reveal common claiming mistakes and explains how married couples can make smarter Social Security decisions. 

One Social Security decision can affect every retirement check you receive for the rest of your life.

As a couple, this decision has additional layers that can both add options to your retirement plan and introduce confusion into the decision making process.

In this episode of the Retire Today podcast, I answered three listener questions that highlight some of the most common Social Security decisions married couples face. While each question focused on a different situation, they all pointed back to the same goal: making smarter Social Security decisions as part of a complete retirement plan.

Question #1

“My husband is in poor health, and we’re wondering if he should retire early and start taking Social Security now. Does his health mean we should claim benefits as soon as possible?”

This question actually contains two separate decisions that many people mistakenly combine.

The first is when to retire.

The second is when to claim Social Security.

Those are not necessarily the same decision.

Poor health may absolutely influence when someone wants to stop working. Spending more time together and focusing on health can make retiring earlier the right personal decision. But that doesn’t automatically mean claiming Social Security immediately is the best financial decision.

For married couples, I encourage looking beyond the person filing for benefits.

If the spouse with poor health also has the larger Social Security benefit, that benefit may eventually become the surviving spouse’s benefit. Instead of thinking about it as his Social Security, think about it as the income the surviving spouse may depend on for years to come.

Health is an important consideration, but it’s only one piece of the equation. Survivor benefits, life expectancy, and your overall retirement income plan all deserve a seat at the table.

---

Question #2

“I’m younger than my husband. Can I collect my own Social Security benefit first, then switch over later and receive a larger spousal benefit?”

This is one of the most common Social Security questions I receive.

The answer is both yes and no, depending on your situation.

If your spouse hasn’t filed yet, you may begin collecting your own retirement benefit. Later, after your spouse files, Social Security can determine whether you’re eligible for an additional spousal benefit if it’s larger than your own.

However, many people asking this question are actually remembering an older claiming strategy—often called File and Restrict—that hasn’t been available for most retirees for more than a decade. Today’s Social Security rules don’t allow you to selectively claim one benefit while intentionally allowing another to continue growing the way they once did.

This illustrates why it’s dangerous to rely on advice that worked years ago. Social Security rules evolve, and strategies that once made sense may no longer be available.

---

Question #3

“I waited until after my full retirement age so I could earn my delayed retirement credits, but my Social Security payment never went up. Did Social Security make a mistake?”

Typically, the answer is usually no.

Delayed retirement credits are one of the most misunderstood parts of the Social Security system.

Every month you delay claiming after full retirement age earns additional delayed retirement credits. Those credits absolutely increase your lifetime benefit—but they don’t show up immediately in your monthly payment.

That timing creates a great deal of confusion because it can appear that waiting accomplished nothing.

In reality, the credits have been earned. They’re simply applied according to Social Security’s payment rules, which often means retirees don’t see the increase until the following year.

Understanding how delayed retirement credits work can prevent unnecessary worry and give you confidence that your claiming strategy is working as intended.

---

The Common Thread

Although these questions seem unrelated, they’re all asking the same thing:

“How do I make the smartest Social Security decision for both me and my family?”

The answer starts by coordinating three separate decisions:

• Your retirement date
• Your Social Security claiming date
• Your survivor benefit strategy

Rather than looking at each decision individually, bring them together into one retirement income plan. That’s when Social Security becomes more than a monthly check—it becomes an important part of creating a retirement you can feel confident about.

Don’t forget to leave a rating for the “Retire Today” podcast if you’ve been enjoying these episodes!

Subscribe to Retire Today to get new episodes every Wednesday.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retire-today/id1488769337 

Spotify Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetireTodaySpotify

---

About the Author:

Jeremy Keil, CFP^®, CFA is a retirement financial advisor with Keil Financial Partners, author of Retire Today: Create Your Retirement Income Plan in 5 Simple Steps, and host of the Retire Today blog and podcast, as well as the Mr. Retirement YouTube channel.

Jeremy is a contributor to Kiplinger and is frequently cited in publications like the Wall Street Journal and New York Times.

---

Additional Links:

• Buy Jeremy’s book – Retire Today: Create Your Retirement Master Plan in 5 Simple Steps
• “When is the Right Time to File for Social Security?” – Mr. Retirement YouTube Channel
• LongevityIllustrator.org 

Connect With Jeremy Keil:

• Keil Financial Partners
• LinkedIn: Jeremy Keil
• Facebook: Jeremy Keil
• LinkedIn: Keil Financial Partners
• YouTube: Mr. Retirement
• Book an Intro Call with Jeremy’s Team

Media Disclosures:

Disclosures

This media is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not consider the investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any consumer. Nothing in this program should be construed as investment, legal, or tax advice, nor as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or to adopt any investment strategy.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the host and any guest, current as of the date of recording, and may change without notice as market, political or economic conditions evolve. All investments involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Legal & Tax Disclosure

Consumers should consult their own qualified attorney, CPA, or other professional advisor regarding their specific legal and tax situations.

Advisor Disclosures

Alongside, LLC, doing business as Keil Financial Partners, is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or expertise. Advisory services are delivered through the Alongside, LLC platform. Keil Financial Partners is independent, not owned or operated by Alongside, LLC.

Additional information about Alongside, LLC – including its services, fees and any material conflicts of interest – can be found at https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/333587 or by requesting Form ADV Part 2A.

The content of this media should not be reproduced or redistributed without the firm’s written consent. Any trademarks or service marks mentioned belong to their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only.

Additional Important Disclosures