7 Hidden Social Security Secrets for Maximizing Couple’s Retirement Income

Married couples face one of retirement planning's most consequential decisions: when to claim Social Security benefits. The timing not only shapes their joint income stream but also determines long-term financial security for the surviving spouse. Optimization hinges on balancing maximum lifetime payouts with robust survivor benefits as a hedge against longevity risk.

Three pillars govern the strategy: Full Retirement Age (FRA), which unlocks 100% of benefits between 66-67; Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), the baseline monthly payout at FRA; and Delayed Retirement Credits (DRCs), offering an 8% annual boost for deferring claims until age 70. High earners particularly benefit from DRCs' guaranteed growth mechanism.

The article outlines seven high-reward claiming strategies, though the full list remains undisclosed in this excerpt. These approaches aim to unlock over $100,000 in additional retirement income through precise coordination of spousal benefits.