Social Security spousal benefits can be worth up to 50% of your spouse’s benefit at full retirement age. You can’t grow spousal benefits the same way you can grow your own benefits by delaying your claim. It’s crucial to have a realistic idea of what Social Security spousal benefits will pay you.

If you’re married, you may be eligible for spousal benefits even if you didn’t earn enough work credits on your own. Make sure you understand how Social Security spousal benefits work and how much they will pay you. Ensure you have a good sense of what combined benefits might amount to.

Social Security spousal benefits max out at 50% of the benefit-earning spouse’s monthly benefit at their full retirement age. Delaying a spousal benefit claim won’t increase monthly checks like it does for personal benefits. Be aware of how much you can expect to receive from spousal benefits.

One area where couples may get tripped up is thinking they can delay a spousal benefit claim for boosted monthly checks. The 8% boost for delaying past full retirement age only applies to personal benefits, not spousal benefits. Plan accordingly to avoid over-reliance on Social Security income in retirement.

Maximizing Social Security benefits is crucial for retirement planning. Understanding the ins and outs of spousal benefits is vital. Ensure you are aware of how spousal benefits work and what you can expect to receive. Don’t leave money on the table by not maximizing your Social Security benefits.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: The 1 Thing About Social Security Spousal Benefits All Married Retirees Need to Know