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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Donnie S.
Can I draw my full Social Security benefits and work full time at the same time?
S.D.
Hi, Donnie Sue. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. If you have reached your full retirement age, there is no limit on your earnings so you can receive your full benefits and work full time. If you’re younger than full retirement age and earn more than the annual earnings limit, we may reduce your benefits. For more information about how work affects your benefits, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Mary G.
My domestic partner of 20 years and I are considering getting married; he is currently receiving SS benefits, but I am not. He is 76 and I am 66. If we get married in 2024, will we have to married 10 years for me to receive spousal benefits, if he dies first?
S.D.
Hi, Mary. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. The duration of marriage requirements are different for spouse vs. surviving spouse benefits. Generally, you must be married at least one year before you can receive spouse’s benefits on your living husband’s record. For more information, read our Frequently Asked Questions and our blog. To be eligible for widow benefits, you must have been married to your husband at least 9 months. However, there are exceptions to this requirement. To learn more, check out our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Debbie
My husband was disabled and drew his social security early and then it switched to SS benefits when he reached full retirement age.
I started taking my benefits at age 65 (full retirement age 66 7 mo). My benefits are lower than my husbands.
If my husband dies, how will my benefits change? Do I receive his full amount or is it reduced because I drew my own SS early?
S.D.
Hi, Debbie. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. Generally, if you are full (survivors) retirement age or older when your husband dies, you should receive his full Social Security benefit. If you’re younger than full retirement age when you start your survivors benefit, you would receive less than his full benefit. For more information about survivors benefits, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Jane M.
I am 66 & 7 months. i have started receiving my S.S. but still working. How much can I make per year without being penalized?
S.D.
Hi, Jane. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. If you have reached your full retirement age, there is no limit on your earnings. If you’re younger than full retirement age and earn more than the annual earnings limit, we may reduce your benefit amount. For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Ellen L.
My husband died and i am collecting his social sercurity, do I keep his social sercurity if I remarry or do i go back on my social sercurity
S.D.
We’re sorry for your loss, Ellen. If you remarry after age 60, you may continue to receive benefits on your deceased husband’s record. If your new spouse is a Social Security beneficiary, you may want to apply for spouse benefits on that record. If that amount is higher, you may be entitled to the higher amount, based on both records. Generally, you must be married for 1 year before you can receive spouse benefits. For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Vicki S.
I was married for over 18 years and got divorced. I worked then for many years and starting receiving my ss benefits at 62. I remarried in 2015. If my husband now were to die, which ss benefit would I be able to receive? My husband’s or ex-spouse, of which his would be higher.
S.D.
Hi, Vicki. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. Because you’re already receiving retirement benefits, you can only get benefits as a surviving spouse if your benefits as a survivor are higher than your own benefit amount. You could be eligible for divorced surviving spouse benefits only if you remarried after you reached 60. For more information, visit our Survivors Planner. To learn more about your eligibility and options, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. In addition, you may wish to read our publication, What Every Woman Should Know. We hope this information is helpful.
Mark M.
I began receiving ss benefits at full retirement age ( I am now 76) My wife is turning 65 in 2024. Her full retirement is 66 years and 10 months. Will she receive 100 % of my benefit if she waits for full retirement age to apply for her benefits?
S.D.
Hi, Mark. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. If your spouse waits to start receiving her spouse benefits until her full retirement age, her benefit amount should be one-half of your full retirement age amount. If she’s eligible for retirement benefits on her own record, we’ll pay that amount first. If she’s eligible for a higher amount as a spouse, she’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. To learn more, visit our Retirement Planner. For information about her benefits as a surviving spouse should you pass away before her, check out our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Laurie s.
Why does a surviving spouse collect on the SSDI of the dead spouse ? The dead spouse was disabled at 50, died at 63, and the healthy alive spouse now 63 gets the full SSDI of the dead spouse, but the alive spouse is not disabled? This seems very unfair, especially because they we’re married for just 9 months. So her SS went up from 1400 month to 3200 per month. Also the dead man has a first wife who also gets his 3200 per month. WHO IS PAYING FOR ALL OF this?
Cecilia S.
Good afternoon, I am a widow my husband passed away when days before his 50th birthday. I am 48 yrs now. At what age can I get his benefits?
S.D.
We are sorry for your loss, Cecilia. Surviving spouses may be able to get survivors benefits as early as age 60 or, if they have a disability, as early as age 50. As a younger widow, you may be eligible for survivors benefits if you have children younger than 16. However, if you are working, the amount of your earnings may affect your eligibility. Even if you can’t receive a monthly survivors benefit at this time, you may be due a one-time lump-sum death payment of $255. To learn more about your eligibility for survivors benefits and to schedule an appointment to apply for the lump-sum payment, please call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Claudia
I’ve been drawing on my former spouse’s benefits and now that I’ve turned 70 want to draw on mine because it’s more. How do I start this?
A.C.
Hi, Claudia. Thanks for visiting our blog. Since you are currently receiving benefits, please 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. We hope this helps.