Social Security’s Marriage Bonus: How Couples Can Unlock an Extra $1,100/Month (Act by December)

September 15, 2025

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You’re married and worried about having enough money for retirement. You’ve heard that Social Security pays spousal benefits, but you don’t know how they work or if you qualify.

Here’s what most couples miss: Marriage can boost your Social Security income by more than $1,100 per month. But you need to know the right moves to make before December 31st.

This guide shows you exactly how to claim these extra benefits. You’ll learn which spouse should file first, when to apply, and how to avoid the mistakes that cost couples thousands of dollars.

Why Your Marriage Certificate Is Worth $13,200 Per Year

Social Security gives married couples special benefits that single people can’t get. These are called spousal benefits.

Here’s how it works: The lower-earning spouse can collect up to 50% of the higher earner’s full retirement benefit. That’s on top of any benefit they earned from their own work record.

Example:

John worked 35 years and earns $2,400/month at full retirement age
His wife, Sarah, worked part-time and earns $800/month from her own record
Sarah can switch to spousal benefits and collect $1,200/month instead ($2,400 × 50%)
Extra monthly income: $400 ($1,200 – $800)

But most couples can do much better than this basic example.

The real money comes from timing your claims right. File at the wrong time and you lose money forever. File smart and you can add over $1,100 to your monthly checks.

How to Double Your Spousal Benefits with Perfect Timing

Most people think you have to file for Social Security at 62 or your full retirement age. Wrong.

The best strategy for married couples is often for one spouse to wait until age 70. Here’s why this matters so much.

The Magic of Delayed Retirement Credits:

For every year you delay filing past your full retirement age, your benefit grows by 8%. Wait until 70 and your benefit is 32% higher than at full retirement age.

This bigger benefit also means bigger spousal benefits. Remember, the spousal benefit is 50% of the higher earner’s full retirement benefit.

Here’s the Math:

Higher earner’s benefit at age 67: $2,400/month
Same benefit if they wait until 70: $3,168/month ($2,400 × 132%)
Spousal benefit at age 67: $1,200/month (50% of $2,400)
Spousal benefit when higher earner waits until 70: Still $1,200/month

Wait, that doesn’t look better. But here’s the trick most people miss.

The “File and Switch” Strategy That Adds $1,100+ Monthly

This is where couples can really cash in. But the rules are tricky and the window is closing.

If you were born before January 2, 1954, you can use a strategy called “restricted application.” This lets you file for spousal benefits while your own benefit keeps growing.

How It Works:

Higher earner files for Social Security at full retirement age
Lower earner files a “restricted application” for spousal benefits only
Lower earner collects spousal benefits while their own benefit grows
At age 70, a lower earner switches to their own (now much larger) benefit

Real Numbers:

Lower earner’s benefit at full retirement age: $1,800/month
Spousal benefit they collect instead: $1,400/month
Their benefit at age 70: $2,376/month ($1,800 × 132%)
Monthly increase at age 70: $976 ($2,376 – $1,400)

Add this to the higher earner’s delayed benefit, and couples can see total increases of $1,100+ per month.

Important: You must be born before January 2, 1954, to use this strategy. If you’re younger, different rules apply.

What to Do If You’re Under 62 (The New Rules)

Congress changed the rules in 2015. If you were born January 2, 1954, or later, you can’t use the “file and switch” strategy.

But you can still boost your benefits with smart timing.

Your Best Options:

Option 1: Higher Earner Delays Until 70

Lower earner files at full retirement age for their own benefit
Higher earner waits until 70 for maximum benefit
When a higher earner dies, the survivor gets the bigger benefit

Option 2: Both Wait Until 70

Only works if both spouses have strong work records
Both benefits grow by 32%
Best for couples where both earn similar amounts

Option 3: One Files Early for Cash Flow

If you need money now, one spouse files at 62
The other spouse waits until full retirement age or 70
You get some money now, but sacrifice lifetime income

The right choice depends on your health, other income, and how long you expect to live.

How Non-Working Spouses Can Collect $1,584 Per Month

Stayed home to raise kids? Worked part-time? You can still collect substantial Social Security benefits.

Non-working spouses can collect up to 50% of their partner’s full retirement benefit. In 2025, the maximum spousal benefit is $1,584 per month.

To Get the Full Amount:

Your working spouse must earn the maximum Social Security benefit ($3,168/month in 2025)
You must wait until your full retirement age to file
You can’t have a higher benefit from your own work record

What If You Worked Some? Social Security pays whichever is higher:

Your own earned benefit
The spousal benefit (50% of your spouse’s benefit)

You can’t collect both. Social Security automatically pays the higher amount.

Filing Early Reduces Your Benefit:

File at 62: Get only 32.5% of spouse’s benefit instead of 50%
File at 65: Get about 45.8% of spouse’s benefit
Wait until full retirement age: Get the full 50%

Why December 31st Is Your Deadline

Several Social Security rules have year-end deadlines that can cost you money if you miss them.

Medicare Enrollment: If you’re 65 and not getting Social Security yet, you might need to enroll in Medicare by December 31st. Miss this deadline and you could pay higher premiums forever.

Tax Planning: Social Security benefits might be taxable. Starting benefits in January instead of December can shift the tax burden to the following year. This might save you money depending on your other income.

Benefit Calculations: Social Security calculates your benefits using your highest 35 years of earnings. If you’re still working and earning more than in previous years, each additional year can increase your future benefits.

Working one more year might boost your monthly benefit by $20-50 or more for life.

Strategy Review: If you’re close to claiming, December is the perfect time to review your strategy. Small changes in timing can mean thousands of dollars over your lifetime.

The Biggest Mistakes That Cost Couples $50,000+

Mistake #1: Filing Too Early. File for Social Security at 62, and your benefit is permanently reduced by 25-30%. For a couple getting $3,000/month, filing early can cost them $750/month for life. Over 20 years, that’s $180,000 lost.

Mistake #2: Not Checking Spousal Benefits. Many people never compare their own benefits to potential spousal benefits. If your spouse earned much more than you, spousal benefits might be higher than your own earned benefit.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Survivor Benefits When one spouse dies, the survivor gets the higher of the two benefits. But you lose the smaller benefit entirely. This makes it even more important for the higher earner to maximize their benefit.

Mistake #4: Bad Timing Between Spouses Having both spouses file at the same time is often wrong. Usually, one should file first while the other waits. The optimal timing depends on your age, earnings, and health.

Mistake #5: Not Planning for Taxes. Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits might be taxable. Poor planning can push you into higher tax brackets and reduce your after-tax retirement income.

Your 3-Step Action Plan Before December 31st

Step 1: Get Your Social Security Statement. Go to ssa.gov and create a my Social Security account. Your statement shows:

Your complete earnings history
Estimated benefits at different claiming ages
How much have you paid into Social Security

Check for errors in your earnings record. You have limited time to fix mistakes.

Step 2: Calculate Your Options. Use the Social Security Administration’s benefit calculators to compare:

Your own benefit vs. spousal benefits
Benefits at different claiming ages
Total lifetime benefits under different scenarios

Don’t guess. Run the numbers.

Step 3: Make Your Decision. Based on your calculations, decide:

Which spouse should file first
At what age should each spouse claim benefits
Whether to delay benefits for higher payments

If you’re eligible for benefits now but plan to wait, you don’t need to do anything. Just remember your planned filing date.

If you want to start benefits in January, you need to apply in the fall. Social Security recommends applying 3-4 months before you want benefits to start.

What About Divorce? You Might Still Qualify

Divorced? You might still be able to collect spousal benefits from your ex’s record.

The Rules:

You were married for at least 10 years
You’re not currently married
Your ex’s benefit is higher than your own earned benefit
You’re at least 62 years old

Good News:

Your ex doesn’t need to file for benefits yet
Your ex doesn’t need to know you’re applying
This doesn’t reduce your ex’s benefits
You can still collect even if your ex remarried

Even Better News: If you were married multiple times for at least 10 years each, you can choose benefits from whichever ex-spouse gives you the highest amount.