A 64-year-old reader has asked MarketWatch whether she should take spousal benefits now or wait for her own Social Security retirement benefit. Her husband is 70. She says she paid a significant amount into Social Security.
The question, published Aug. 31, 2026, highlights a common dilemma for married couples: whether to claim a spousal benefit early or delay to build a larger own benefit. The reader's age and her husband's age put her at a decision point.
The trade-off between spousal and own benefits
Spousal benefits allow a spouse to claim up to 50% of the worker's full retirement benefit. However, claiming before full retirement age reduces the amount. In contrast, delaying one's own benefit past full retirement age increases it by a certain percentage each year.
The reader's own contributions suggest she may have a substantial benefit of her own. If her own benefit exceeds what she would get from a spousal benefit, waiting could be more advantageous.
What the reader said
"I paid a significant amount into Social Security," she told MarketWatch. That statement underscores the weight of her decision: she has earned a benefit based on her own work record, not just as a spouse.
The question is whether to start receiving a spousal benefit now, which would provide income immediately, or to wait and claim her own benefit later, potentially at a higher amount.
The open question
MarketWatch's article does not provide a specific recommendation. The reader must weigh her own financial needs, life expectancy, and the exact benefit amounts. The answer depends on her full retirement age, her benefit amount, and her husband's benefit.
What remains unresolved is which strategy maximizes her lifetime income. The reader will need to calculate the break-even point and consider her personal circumstances before deciding.