Widows and widowers need to talk to a human being and get the kind of help personalized to their own situation.

In most cases, the funeral home reports the death to the SSA, but you should confirm that it has been done. You can also call ...

All you have to do to claim a spousal benefit is wait for your partner to apply and then sign up yourself. But if you hope to maximize your checks, you'll need to avoid falling prey to the following ...

Though most Americans are familiar with Social Security benefits, many may not know that they could also be eligible to receive payments as a spouse. It's a chance for seniors to bring in more money, ...

You must meet eligibility requirements to qualify for Social Security spousal benefits. It's possible to be dually eligible for retirement and spousal benefits, though you'll only get one of the two.

Social Security spousal benefits can be extremely beneficial for people who either don't qualify for Social Security by themselves or qualify for a significantly lower amount than their current or ...

Spousal Social Security benefits have specific criteria you must meet to be eligible. Ex-spouses may be eligible for a spousal benefit if they were married to the qualifying worker for at least 10 ...

A: Yes, I can explain what’s going on. But first, I must comment on your assumptions about government bias. I am always surprised, and frankly a little disappointed, that people just automatically ...

Social Security spousal benefits could give your household a much-needed financial boost in retirement. With the average check around $955 per month as of August 2025, these benefits aren't enough to ...

Q: My husband died several months ago. I’m 64. I’m getting my own retirement benefits, and he was getting his own benefits. His Social Security check was more than mine, ...

Even military families often don’t know what benefits are available to the surviving family of an active-duty service member.