Planning for retirement as a couple comes with both opportunities and risks. The
decisions you make around Social
Security benefits can affect not just your income, but your spouse’s
financial security for decades.
That’s why it’s important to think beyond individual choices. Coordinating your
strategy as a household can help you avoid costly missteps. With 2026 underway,
now is a good time to review your plan and make adjustments before claiming
decisions become final.
Here are six important Social Security moves married couples should consider
before the end of the year.
Review your earnings records
Your Social Security benefit is based on your lifetime earnings history, so
accuracy matters. Each spouse has an earnings record that tracks income subject
to payroll taxes, which the Social Security Administration uses to calculate
benefits.
You can review your record by creating a “my Social Security” account. Once
inside, compare each year’s reported income with your own tax records to confirm
everything matches.
Keep in mind that in 2026, only income up to $184,500 is subject to Social
Security taxes, so higher earnings may appear capped without being incorrect. If
you spot errors, contact the SSA and provide documentation — fixing mistakes now
can increase your future monthly benefit.
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Consider when each spouse should claim benefits
Timing is one of the most important decisions couples will make. Claiming early
means receiving benefits sooner, but at a permanently reduced monthly amount,
while delaying can increase payments up to age 70.
Couples should plan together rather than individually. For example, one spouse
may claim earlier to generate income, while the higher earner delays to maximize
future payments. If both spouses have similar earnings histories, delaying
benefits may make sense for both — assuming your finances allow it. But if there
is a large income gap, a coordinated strategy can help maximize total household
income over time.
Understand how spousal benefits work
Spousal benefits can provide additional income, especially for lower-earning
partners. A spouse may receive up to 50% of the higher earner’s full retirement
age benefit, depending on when they claim.
Timing matters here as well. Claiming spousal benefits before full retirement
age reduces the monthly amount, while waiting can help maximize the benefit.
However, if the surviving spouse is the caretaker of a qualifying child, the
benefit is not reduced.
It’s also important to know that you cannot receive both your own benefit and a
full spousal benefit — you receive the higher of the two. Understanding this
structure can help couples make smarter decisions about when each person should
claim.
Figure out whether you’d be eligible for survivor benefits
Survivor benefits are often overlooked, but they can play a major role in
long-term financial security. If one spouse passes away, the surviving spouse
may be eligible to receive the higher of the two benefits.
To qualify, you generally must be at least age 60, or age 50 to 59 if disabled,
and have been married for at least nine months before your spouse’s death.
Ex-spouses may also qualify if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.
This is why delaying benefits for the higher-earning spouse can be especially
valuable. It not only increases their own payments, but also boosts the survivor
benefit the other spouse may rely on later.
Understand how Social Security fits into your budget
Once you estimate your combined monthly benefits, you can begin building a
realistic retirement budget. Subtract your expected Social Security income from
your projected annual expenses to determine how much you’ll need from savings or
other sources.
From there, you can estimate your annual income gap and use that to guide your
savings targets. A common rule of thumb is to multiply your annual shortfall by
25 to estimate how much you’ll need in retirement assets.
This process helps turn abstract numbers into a concrete plan. It also allows
you to adjust your strategy if your claiming decisions or retirement timeline
change.
Evaluate the potential tax impact of claiming benefits
Social Security benefits may be subject to federal taxes depending on your
combined income. For married couples filing jointly, taxes can apply if combined
income exceeds certain thresholds, potentially taxing up to 85% of benefits.
This means the timing of withdrawals from retirement accounts can affect your
overall tax bill. For example, taking large distributions from a 401(k) or IRA
in the same year you claim Social Security could push you into a higher tax
bracket.
Coordinating your income sources can help minimize taxes and preserve more of
your benefits. Working with a financial professional may help you identify
strategies to reduce your overall tax burden.
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Bottom line
Married couples have more flexibility than individuals when it comes to Social
Security — but that flexibility also comes with added complexity. Small
decisions about timing, coordination, and taxes can have a lasting impact on
your total lifetime benefits.
Taking time now to review your strategy, align your decisions, and plan ahead
can help you avoid costly mistakes. When executed thoughtfully, these moves can
strengthen your overall retirement
plan and provide greater financial confidence for both partners.
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Author Details
Adam Palasciano
With six years of experience covering personal finance, Adam Palasciano specializes in retirement planning. He helps readers make smarter investment decisions as retirement approaches and find ways to make their savings last longer once they get there. He also breaks down complex topics like Social Security benefits so readers can better understand how to maximize the income they’ll rely on later in life.
