Your Filing Age Affects Your Family Too
Social Security isn’t just about you—it can also protect your loved ones. Many retirees don’t realize that their filing age directly affects how much a spouse or survivor may receive. Making the wrong choice could leave your family with less money every month, for the rest of their lives.
3 Key Points Up Front
Spousal benefits can equal up to 50% of your partner’s check.
Survivor benefits can pay up to 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefit.
Filing too early permanently reduces these benefits for life.
How Spousal Benefits Work
If your spouse has a work history and qualifies for Social Security, you may be entitled to spousal benefits. At full retirement age (FRA), this can be up to half of your spouse’s benefit. But if you file before FRA, your spousal benefit is reduced—and that reduction lasts for life.
How Survivor Benefits Work
When one spouse passes away, the surviving spouse may be entitled to receive up to 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefit. This amount depends on:
The age the deceased spouse began collecting benefits.
The age at which the surviving spouse applies.
Filing early as a survivor can shrink these benefits significantly. That’s why filing decisions impact not just your retirement—but your spouse’s financial future too.
Why Filing Age Matters So Much
Filing at 62 might sound appealing, but it could reduce survivor benefits by hundreds of dollars every month. Over a lifetime, that adds up to tens of thousands of dollars. By carefully choosing when to file, you can protect your spouse’s income, ensuring stability long after you’re gone.
Why You Need Expert Guidance
With over 2,700 Social Security rules, it’s easy to make a mistake that costs your family thousands. As an RSSA® with Senior Help And You, I use advanced planning tools to compare scenarios, calculate lifetime benefits, and show you the strategy that protects both you and your spouse.
You don’t have to figure this out on your own—my role is to make sure you make the smartest choice.
Curiosity Teaser
The wrong filing age could reduce your spouse’s survivor benefit by hundreds of dollars every month. Don’t let your family’s future income slip away.
Your filing age affects more than just your check—it affects your spouse, your family, and your peace of mind. With expert guidance from an RSSA® like Albert Ferrin, with Senior Help And You, you’ll have the clarity, strategy, and confidence to make the right decision for your retirement and your loved ones.
👉 Protect your family’s future—get your spousal & survivor benefits analysis today.
3 Takeaways
Spousal benefits can provide up to 50% of your partner’s check.
Survivor benefits can replace up to 100% of a spouse’s benefit.
Filing too early reduces both spousal and survivor income for life.
References
Social Security Administration – Retirement Planner: Benefits for Your Spouse (SSA.gov)
RSSA® Module: Comprehensive Retirement Planning
Author: Albert Ferrin RSSA®, Founder - Senior Help And You LLC
