UBCNews - Business - Social Security Spousal Benefits: How Does The Claims Process Work?

Episode Date: March 3, 2026

Welcome back, everyone! Today we're tackling a topic that can really make a difference in your retirement income - Social Security spousal benefits. If you're married, divorced, or widowed, this could mean thousands of dollars more each year. So, here's a question for you: Have you ever wondered if you could be leaving money on the table with Social Security? Melia Advisory Group City: Tulsa Address: 5424 S Memorial Dr Website: https://www.meliagroup.com/

Welcome back, everyone. Today we're tackling a topic that can really make a difference in your retirement income. Social Security spousal benefits. If you're married, divorced, or widowed, this could mean thousands of dollars more each year. So here's a question for you. Have you ever wondered if you could be leaving money on the table with Social Security? That's such an important question. And honestly, a lot of people don't even realize spousal benefits exist. I was talking to a client just last month who had no idea she qualified. And it turned out she could get an extra $800 a month. She nearly fell out of her chair when I showed her the numbers. I bet. That's quite the surprise bonus. So let's break this down. What exactly are spousal benefits? Spousal benefits allow you to receive up to 50% of your spouse's primary insurance amount.

That's their full retirement age benefit. Now the 50% figure is what you get if you wait until your own full retirement age to claim. If you claim early, say at 62, that percentage drops. You could end up with as little as 32.5% of your spouse's benefit if you claim at the earliest age. Okay, so up to 50%. That sounds pretty straightforward, but I'm guessing there are some catches, right? Definitely, and here's the kicker. Unlike your own retirement benefit, spousal benefits don't increase if you wait past your full retirement age.

So there's no extra reward for delaying beyond that point. There's simply no extra reward past your free. Got it. So no benefit to waiting too long. What about eligibility? What do people actually need to qualify? Right. So first, your spouse needs to be eligible for Social Security retirement or disability benefits.

You need to be at least 62 years old unless you're caring for a child under 16 or a disabled child receiving Social Security. Then you can qualify at any age. And here's something people often miss. the dual entitlement rule. Mm-hmm, that sounds important. If you're eligible for both your own retirement benefit and a spousal benefit, Social Security will pay your benefit first.

Then if the spousal benefit is higher, they'll add enough to bring you up to that spousal amount. You can't receive both in full. You get the higher of the two. I see. So it's not like you're stacking benefits on top of each other. It's more like they're filling in the gap if your own benefit is lower.

Exactly, and that's where strategic planning comes in. For some couples, it makes sense for the higher earner to delay claiming until age 70 to maximize their benefit, while the lower earner might claim spousal benefits earlier depending on their specific situation. That point about strategic planning sets up our next piece, the actual claims process. But first, a quick word from our sponsor. If you're in Tulsa, Oklahoma, or the surrounding area, and want help understanding security decisions, Melia Advisory Group specializes in retirement planning and social security analysis. With over 50 years of combined experience, they help you develop integrated financial plans

that work for your unique situation, whether you're preparing for retirement or already enjoying it. They also offer IRA management, estate planning, and Medicare advisement to help you feel confident about your financial future. Learn more at meliagroup.com. On strategic planning, how do you actually go about claiming these spousal benefits? What's the process? The good news is that the application process is pretty accessible. You can apply online through the Social Security Administration's website, call their national toll-free number, or visit a local Social Security office in person.

And here's a pro tip. Apply about three months before you want your benefits to start. That helps prevent any delays in receiving your first payment. Three months ahead, that's helpful. What kind of documentation do people need to have ready? You'll typically need your birth certificate, your marriage certificate, and proof of citizenship or lawful residency. The Social Security Administration generally requires original documents or copies certified

by the issuing agency, though they may accept photocopies of things like W-2 forms or tax returns. But here's something important. Don't delay applying if you don't have everything. The SSA can actually help you obtain missing documents. That's reassuring. Now, what about folks who are divorced? I imagine the rules get a bit more complicated there?

They do, but divorce spouses can absolutely qualify. The marriage needs to have lasted at least 10 years. You must be currently unmarried, and both you and your ex-spouse need to be at least 62. Here's the interesting part. Your ex doesn't need to be actively collecting benefits for you to claim, as long as they're eligible and the divorce happened at least two years ago. So your ex's decision doesn't impact your ability to claim.

That's a relief for a lot of people, I'd imagine. And does claiming spousal benefits affect what your spouse or ex-spouse receives? Not at all. Your spousal benefit doesn't reduce what the primary worker gets. It's completely separate. I like to joke that it's one of the few times you can get something from your ex without any strings attached. Huh, that's one way to look at it. And for anyone wondering about remarriage?

If you remarry, you generally lose eligibility for benefits on your former spouse's record. But if that subsequent marriage ends, your eligibility may be reinstated. Makes sense. Let's talk about something I know affects a lot of government workers. The government pension offset. How does that play into spousal benefits? This is huge news, actually. The GPO used to reduce spousal benefits by two-thirds of your government pension amount if that pension came from a job not covered by Social Security, typically federal, state, or local government positions.

But the Social Security Fairness Act, which was signed into law in January 2025, repealed both the GPO and the windfall elimination provision. The repeal applies to benefits payable for months after December 2023, with retroactive payments dating back to January 2024. Wow. So that's a major change for a lot of people who were previously penalized. Absolutely. It opens up spousal benefits to thousands of people who were previously shut out or had their benefits severely reduced.

Right, exactly. Before we wrap up, what's the biggest mistake you see people make with spousal benefits? Claiming too early without understanding the permanent reduction. Once you claim early, that reduced amount is locked in for life. People also don't realize that if you're working while receiving benefits before your full retirement age, there's an earnings limit, exceed it, and your benefits get reduced temporarily. But once you reach FRA, you can earn any amount without affecting your spousal benefits. So to everyone listening, timing really matters,

and it's worth taking the time to understand your options before you make that decision. The difference between claiming it's 62 versus waiting until your full retirement age can be substantial. Exactly, and remember, survivor benefits work differently. If your spouse passes away, you may be eligible for up to 100% of their benefit amount as a survivor benefit. That can be claimed separately from your retirement benefit at different times, depending on your circumstances. Given how complex these rules are, working with someone who specializes in Social Security planning can really help you maximize your lifetime benefits. Such valuable information.

Thanks for breaking this down in a way that makes sense. Together, we've covered eligibility, the application process, special situations for divorced spouses, and those recent changes to the government pension offset. If you found this helpful, share it with someone who might be planning for retirement.