The Social Security Question Married Couples Should Answer Before Either Spouse Claims

Married couples should look beyond their first Social Security checks. The higher earner’s claiming decision can also affect the income available to a surviving spouse later. Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

For married couples, deciding when to claim Social Security should rarely be treated as two completely separate decisions. One spouse may want benefits at 62 while the other plans to work until 70, but those choices can affect more than the amount deposited into the checking account today.

The stakes can be substantial: Social Security estimates that an aged couple with both spouses receiving benefits gets an average $3,208 per month in 2026, while the estimated average for an aged widow or widower receiving benefits alone is $1,919. Those figures describe different beneficiary groups rather than the before-and-after income of the same household, but they illustrate why survivor income deserves attention before either spouse files.