TRANSCRIPT
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#89 - Q&A: Understanding Differences between Social Security Spousal vs. Survivor Benefits
Eric Blake: Claiming before full retirement age is going to result in a reduced spousal benefit. Again, the maximum is 50%. If you file before age 67, if that is your full retirement age, it is going to be reduced by some percentage. The earlier you file, the higher the percentage reduction is going to be.
Welcome to another episode of The Simply Retirement Podcast, where we want to empower and educate women to live your retirement on your terms. I’m your host, Eric Blake, practicing retirement planner with over 25 years of experience and founder of Blake Wealth Management, and I would not be the man I am today without the women in my life. One of those women is my amazing producer, Wendy McConnell, and she’s joining me again today. Wendy, how are you?
Wendy McConnell: Oh, stop. Your flattery will get you everywhere. I’m good.
Eric Blake: You’re an important piece, believe me.
Wendy McConnell: Thank you.
Eric Blake: No doubt about that. This is our first recording of the new year, so Happy New Year.
Wendy McConnell: Happy New Year. Happy playoff season.
Eric Blake: Yeah, whatever. Hopefully many of you know I’m in the Dallas area and have been a Cowboys fan since I could barely walk. Now, more than half of my life, they have not done much.
Wendy McConnell: Well, they were really big in the nineties, so you had your time.
Eric Blake: I get it, but 30 years is a long time. Thirty years with nothing.
Wendy McConnell: It is. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.
Eric Blake: It’s a sore spot. I definitely don’t have the same emotional connection as I once did. I told my kids and family this story recently. You remember “The Catch” against San Francisco? Dwight Clark catches the ball in the NFC Championship game. I missed school the next Monday because I was so torn up about it. I was about 10 or 11 years old. That’s how emotionally connected I was back then.
Wendy McConnell: I’m an Eagles fan, and I went to a game years ago at the Vet Stadium. There was a kid, probably about 10 years old, upset because they lost at the last minute. His dad said, “Son, if you’re going to be an Eagles fan, you’re going to have to get used to this.” That’s one of the truest things I’ve ever heard.
Eric Blake: Now the cameraman’s goal is to find the crying kid in the stands and put him on TV.
Wendy McConnell: And you can always find at least one.
Eric Blake: Always.
Wendy McConnell: So are we going to talk about football the whole time, or are we getting to the topic?
Eric Blake: We’re getting there. Today is a Q&A episode. I’m answering one question that came through Ask Eric at SimplyRetirementPodcast.com, and then I want to walk through a real-life situation shared in our Simply Retirement Community Facebook group. These are questions many women are trying to sort through quietly because they are not sure who to ask.
My goal is to bring clarity, structure, and a better way to think through these decisions. I’ll also share a few resources along the way. The first question comes from someone who wanted to remain anonymous. She said, “My husband is retired, and I can’t seem to get any information regarding how much of his Social Security I am entitled to. I’m retired as well.”
This is one of the most common and misunderstood Social Security questions. For today, we are focusing only on spousal benefits for couples who are currently married and both living. I’ll assume her own benefit is either very small or nonexistent, which is common due to caregiving or other reasons, but I’ll explain how it works if she does have her own benefit. I want to break this down step by step.
Step one is basic eligibility. To receive a spousal benefit, you generally must be at least 62, have been married for at least one year, and the higher-earning spouse must have filed for benefits.
Wendy McConnell: Okay.
Eric Blake: Step two is figuring out the husband’s full retirement age benefit, also known as the primary insurance amount or PIA. A spousal benefit is based on that amount, not necessarily what he is receiving today. You can find this by reviewing his Social Security statement, calling Social Security—usually he has to make that call—or estimating it if you know his current benefit and claiming age.
Even if he delayed benefits to age 70, the spousal benefit does not increase. The maximum spousal benefit is always 50% of his full retirement age amount.
Wendy McConnell: This assumes she’s taking spousal benefits instead of her own?
Eric Blake: Yes. Based on her question, I’m assuming she expects her benefit to be based on his record. Step three is estimating the maximum benefit. At most, she can receive 50% of his full retirement age benefit if she waits until her own full retirement age.
Step four is adjusting for claiming age. Claiming early reduces the spousal benefit, and the earlier you file, the larger the reduction.
Wendy McConnell: That makes sense.
Eric Blake: A lot of people get tripped up here. One resource that helps is our Ultimate Guide to Women’s Social Security Success, which includes a 2026 quick reference guide showing reduction percentages by age.
Step five looks at her own work record. If she has a benefit of her own, Social Security pays that first and then adds a spousal top-off. For example, if her own benefit is $500 and her spousal maximum is $1,500, Social Security pays her $500 plus $1,000 from his record.
Wendy McConnell: Okay.
Eric Blake: Finally, always confirm everything with Social Security. They determine the exact benefit based on age, work record, and current rules.
Now let’s move to the second situation shared in the Facebook group. A stepdaughter shared this on behalf of her stepmother, who is 63 and recently widowed. She stepped in to help manage finances, which is a big responsibility.
The widow has some savings, a small IRA, a small VA benefit, VA medical coverage, and has been on unemployment. They are building a budget and selling some items to create cash reserves. The big question is whether she needs to go back to work and whether it could be part-time.
She qualifies for Social Security on her own record, but her benefit is smaller than her late husband’s. Because of the age difference, losing his benefit creates cash flow pressure.
In widow situations, a common rule of thumb is to start the smaller benefit earlier and delay the larger one if possible.
Wendy McConnell: This is different because it’s survivor benefits.
Eric Blake: Exactly. Survivor benefits are different from spousal benefits.
Wendy McConnell: If the higher earner waited until 70, does the survivor only get half?
Eric Blake: No. Survivor benefits can be up to 100% of what the deceased spouse was receiving at the time of death, subject to age reductions. If she waits until her full retirement age of 67, she can receive the full amount. If she files at 63, it’s reduced.
Survivor benefits stop increasing at full retirement age, while her own retirement benefit can increase until age 70. She may choose to start her own reduced benefit now and switch to the survivor benefit later.
If she files early and works, she must consider the earnings test. In 2026, earning over about $24,000 could reduce benefits. That’s why cash flow planning matters. Social Security, work, IRA withdrawals, and asset sales all come into play.
The goal is not to make the perfect decision immediately, but to make decisions in the right order. Stability first, clarity next, optimization later.
Wendy McConnell: No rash decisions.
Eric Blake: Exactly. Social Security decisions are often permanent, so understanding cash flow is critical.
To recap, spousal benefits are based on the higher earner’s full retirement age and require that spouse to have filed. Survivor benefits can be up to 100% of what the deceased spouse received.
Sequencing decisions matters more than speed. Coordinating Social Security, work income, and cash flow preserves flexibility.
For resources, check out the Ultimate Guide to Women’s Social Security Success and our three-part Navigating Life After Loss podcast series. If you’d like help creating a personalized retirement plan, visit GetMySimplyRetirementRoadmap.com. For all links and resources, visit SimplyRetirementPodcast.com, and you can submit questions at AskEric.me.
Until next time, remember, retirement is not the end of the road. It is the start of a new journey.
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