This Social Security Spousal Rule Finally Fizzled Out in 2024 — But These 3 Strategies Remain. A Social Security spousal rule that was around for decades ended this year for the last eligible retirees — those who turned 70 on Jan. 1, 2024.
Randall, in order for your wife to be eligible for spousal benefits, you need to have already filed for your own benefits. If that's the case and your wife is at least 62 years old, she can apply for her spousal benefit.
The Social Security spousal benefits loophole refers to strategies that some married couples have used to maximize their Social Security benefits. These strategies were allowed under prior rules but were curtailed by changes made in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.
62 years of age or older.
Last Updated: April 18, 2025 If you don't have enough Social Security credits to get benefits on your own work record or your own benefit is small, you may be able to receive benefits as a spouse. Your spouse must be receiving benefits for you to get benefits on their work record.
Your Clients Can Get a W-4V Online To start, change, or stop federal income tax withholding from their Social Security benefits, your clients can sign and submit IRS form W-4V directly to their local Social Security office.
If the older spouse is the higher earner, it could be beneficial for them to delay taking benefits until age 70. The benefit will grow by about 8% for each year of delay, and the survivor benefit will also be higher.
Either spouse can maximize their regular Social Security benefit amount by waiting past their full-retirement age to apply, up to age 70. Benefits generally increase 8% each year filing is delayed.
This Social Security Spousal Rule Finally Fizzled Out in 2024 — But These 3 Strategies Remain. A Social Security spousal rule that was around for decades ended this year for the last eligible retirees — those who turned 70 on Jan. 1, 2024.
Social Security Strategies for Spouses With the first strategy, sometimes called the “62/70 split,” the lower-earning spouse takes Social Security as early as age 62 and the higher-earning spouse postpones filing until age 70 to maximize his or her benefit.