Smart Social Security Strategies for Women
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 2, 2023
While many women plan to claim Social Security retirement benefits, they may not know about how various factors could impact their monthly payment.
More women are working than ever before, but their average benefits are lower than those for men because women typically earn less over their lifetime. In addition, falling marriage rates mean fewer women are in a position to claim spouse’s and survivor benefits.
Here are some important points for women to consider when planning to apply for Social Security benefits:
Claiming benefits. Benefits can be reduced by up to 30% if you claim as soon as you are eligible, before your full retirement age. If you have other income sources you can use after retirement, such as a 401(k) or IRA, you can delay claiming your Social Security benefits. This delay will result in increased monthly benefits when you do begin receiving them. The increased monthly amount can have a positive impact on your financial security because you will receive a greater amount for the rest of your life.
Your health. Delaying your claiming age makes sense if you are in good health. If you are in poor health, it may make sense to claim earlier.
Spouse’s benefits. Married people are eligible to claim spouse’s benefits and are also eligible to claim their own benefits if they worked for at least 10 years. Your strategy must consider both you and your spouse. If neither of you can delay claiming, then claim the lower-earning spouse’s benefits first. Delaying the claim of the higher-earning spouse will result in greater growth in the monthly benefits. Even if you have never worked or worked for less than 10 years, you can claim spouse’s benefits after the income-earning spouse has claimed benefits.
Surviving spouses. If you have survived your spouse, you can claim survivor benefits. This can be up to 100% of your deceased spouse’s benefits. The amount depends on whether you can claim your own benefits first and if your spouse was receiving benefits prior to their death. Depending on income levels, you may be able to claim your deceased spouse’s benefits while delaying your own benefits.
Divorce. If you are divorced and were married for at least 10 years, you can claim spouse’s benefits at age 62. This applies if you did not remarry and if your spouse’s benefits are higher than your own benefits. If you remarry, you cannot claim under the former spouse, but you can claim under your current spouse. You cannot claim spouse’s benefits within 2 years of divorce.
Plan early. Develop a strategy for claiming benefits at least 10 or 15 years before you retire. One great way to get started is to create a personal my Social Security account. With a personal my Social Security account, you can get personalized retirement estimates, get estimated for spouse’s benefits, and get your Social Security Statement.
Social Security is there for you as you plan for retirement. Please share this information with friends and family who need it – and post it on social media.
Our posting of this blog does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any non-Social Security organization, author, or webpages.
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Tags: my Social Security, my Social Security account, retirement, retirement benefits, Social Security benefits
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Leigh
I am 65 and my husband is 71. He was the highest earner and waited to claim his Social Security until he was 70.
I have not claimed my Social Security yet.
I want to be able to claim his higher Social Security if he predeceases me.
I plan on claiming my Social Security when I reach my FRA (66 years 8 months old).
Will I be able to claim his entire Social Security benefit (if he predeceases me) that he received based on his waiting till 70 even though I only waited till my FRA?
Thanks
Sunny
As I understand it, yes you will. You are entitled to every dollar of the amount he was receiving before his death, whenever that is. You can’t claim both yours and his simultaneously, you’ll have to give up yours to claim his, but you will receive the same amount he was getting.
Ann C.
Hi, Leigh. Thanks for visiting our blog. The amount of your widow’s benefit would be based on several factors, including: the earnings of your husband, when he started receiving his benefits, your age at the time of his death, and the amount of your own retirement benefit. We compare your own benefit with your potential survivor benefit. If your survivor benefit would be higher than your own current retirement benefit, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. For more information, please visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Kaylin B.
I was married to ex for 18 yrs, he has just turned 62 but he has been on social security disability for a couple of years. I know I can claim under his social security number but do I have to wait until I am 62( which will be in February)? Also if I have his social security number how can I find out what my benefits under his number would be compared to what mine would be if I file under my number before my full retirement age
edee.russo-maurer
PLEASE CONTACT SOCIAL SECURITY DIRECTLY RIGHT NOW,
VIA PHONE OR MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE BRANCH WHICH IS LOCATED (BY YOUR CURRENT ADDRESS) AS YOUR BRANCH DESIGNATED AS YOUR LOCATION TO HELP YOU. AN AGENT WILL ANSWER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS.
Ann C.
Hi, Kaylin. Thanks for your questions. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years, must be at least age 62, and you cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. For more information on how to qualify for divorced spouse benefits, visit our Benefits Planner. We hope this helps.
Laina L.
What if the ex-wife remarried but divorced the 2nd husband after 4 years and is now single; can she claim benefits on first husband’s record since they were married over 10 years? In other words, does a second marriage negate the first?
Dick F.
Yes. After the 2nd divorce she can claim benefits from her first husband.
Ann C.
Hi, Laina. Thanks for your questions. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, a person had to be married to their former spouse for at least 10 years, be currently unmarried, and they cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on their own record. For more information on how to qualify for divorced spouse benefits, visit our Benefits Planner. We hope this helps.
Laina L.
Thanks Ann, that’s wonderful news. Be well.
Cassie D.
I am 65, turning 66 in October. I began getting Medicaid@ 62( I think). My medicaid ended and my SSI started ( I can’t recall when).
1) I divorced my husband after 10 yrs.
2) He later, started getting Disability based on My working. (He couldn’t keep a job & didn’t qualify based on his own work-history.
He died @ 50yo, some yrs ago.
3)My questions are:
What affect does or should (THE ABOVE)
have on my SSI?
NOTE:When on Medicaid, my required ‘spousal______?’ was not deducted. Thus, It was deducted later (I believe after receiving SSI).
NOTE: I will be receiving $10k or a monthly (preferred)…inheritance, as a secondary recipient. ( primary recipient just died)
4)What affect will this inheritance have on my SSI
5)AS well as the IRS.
6) CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY ADVICE, as to what I should do to protect myself,
(in regards to IRS & to my SSI?)
Appreciative In Advance !!
Ann C.
Hi, Cassie. Thanks for visiting our blog. Unfortunately, your questions are a bit more complex than we can answer in this forum.For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. For tax questions, you will need to contact the IRS. Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040 or you can visit their website. We hope this information is helpful.
Guy
My wife is 16 years younger than me. I am 66 but not yet claiming SS. My wife does not have 10 years of work. If I die first how much of my SS would my wife be able to get and does it matter what age she starts taking it once she is 62 as to the amount?
Ann C.
Hi, Guy. Thanks for your questions. The amount of her widow’s benefit would be based on several factors, including: your earnings, when you started receiving your benefits, her age at the time of your death, and the amount of her own retirement benefit. For more information, please visit our Survivors Planner page. We hope this helps.
Pat B.
We were married, divorced and remarried. The total accumulation was more than the 10 years required. I’ve been denied his higher benefit because ‘the married years were not consecutive’. A SSA supervisor told me that it does not have to be consecutive so I appealed twice, and lost. Should I appeal again? Advice please
Crystal R.
It appears to me that someone made up their own rule regarding the total years you were married. I’d appeal and ask for policy citation where it says the years must be consecutive. I’d also contact my state representative and ask them to look into the matter. I hope this helps.
RandolI
Claiming a spouse’s benefits – been married 25 years, husband is took his SS early (62). When can the wife (53), who is still working, claim his benefit?
Ann C.
Hi, Randoll. Thanks for your question. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, the wife must be age 62. Keep in mind if she qualifies for her own benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay her own benefits first. If her benefits as a spouse are higher than her own benefits, she will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Visit here for more information. We hope this helps.
Sandra
Husband divorced me after 40years . My ss is more than 1/2 of his so I’m collecting mine. But he gets married again, when he dies am I entitled to his full ss (he started to collect at 70)
Dick F.
yes, since you were married for more than 10 years, then you are entitled to his full benefit as a surviving spouse. His current wife gets the full benefit as well.
Ann C.
Hi, Sandra. Thanks for your question. The amount of your divorced widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of your ex-husband, when he started receiving his benefits, your age at the time of his death, and the amount of your own retirement benefit. We compare your own benefit with your potential survivor benefit. If your survivor benefit would be higher than your own current retirement benefit, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. Visit our page, Survivor Planner: If You Are The Survivor, for more information. We hope this helps.
Sidney B.
My wife and I are both receiving benefits under our individual accounts. My (husband) benefits are higher than my wife’s. Can she change her claiming to my account to get higher benefits?
Dick F.
If she gets a spousal claim while your alive then she gets half of what you are getting. When you die, she gets your full amount but does not continue to collect on the half so she has to plan on losing income after you pass. If her benefit is higher than half of yours then she’s good right now.
Ann C.
Hi, Sidney. Thanks for your question. Keep in mind that if the wife qualifies for her own benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay her own benefits first. If her benefits as a spouse are higher than her own benefits, she will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Visit here for more information. We hope this helps.
dan
husband is 72, wife is 58. SS is only source of income for family. He dies. When can she get Social Security and at what percentage?
Barbara P.
How long were they married, at least 10 years, she needs to go to a SS office ASAP to get with a Rep to determine her eligibility. Could be tricky depending on if it was Disability, she could get up to 1/2 of his largest benefit. Talk to a Rep at the office.
Ann C.
Hi, Dan. Thanks for your questions. The amount of her widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of her husband, when he started receiving his benefits, her age at the time of his death, and the amount of her own retirement benefit if applicable. Also, she would be eligible to apply for survivor benefits when at age 60 (age 50 or over if disabled). However, there are other factors that may affect your entitlement to these benefits. For more information, please visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.