What Most People Miss About Social Security Benefits (And What It Could Cost You)

When I helped my mom navigate Social Security after my dad passed, I was shocked by how confusing the process was. Between the long hold times and conflicting answers, it was hard to know who to trust — or what she was really entitled to. That experience was one of the many reasons I became a Registered Social Security Analyst (RSSA®).

In this lesson from the Retirement Income School™, we’re breaking down the Social Security benefits most people don’t understand — and often miss entirely.

Because Social Security is more than just a retirement check.
It’s also a powerful — and often underutilized — source of income for:

• Spouses

• Survivors

• Children and dependents

And if you’re not factoring those benefits into your plan, you could be leaving thousands on the table.

What Are Spousal, Survivor & Dependent Benefits?

Most people only think about Social Security as something they’ll get from their own work record. But depending on your marital status, family structure, and life circumstances, you could be eligible for benefits from someone else’s work history — even an ex-spouse.

Spousal Benefits

• Available after 1 year of marriage

• Based on up to 50% of your spouse’s PIA (Primary Insurance Amount)

• You must be at least 62, and your spouse must be collecting their benefit

• These benefits don’t grow past Full Retirement Age (FRA)

Divorced Spousal Benefits

• Available if you were married for at least 10 years, are over 62, and not remarried

• You may be “independently entitled” even if your ex hasn’t filed yet (after 2+ years divorced)

Dual Entitlement

• You may qualify for both your own benefit and a spousal benefit

• Social Security gives you the higher amount, not both combined

• This usually means a mix of your own retirement benefit plus a “spousal top-off”

Survivor Benefits

Survivor benefits are one of the most underutilized Social Security options — mostly because people don’t realize they qualify.

• If your spouse passes away, you may receive their full benefit if it’s higher than yours

• Survivor benefits may be claimed as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled)

• These benefits follow slightly different FRA rules and often require case-by-case analysis

• You can also qualify if you were married for 10+ years to a deceased ex-spouse

Dependents may qualify for survivor benefits too — up to 75% of the deceased parent’s PIA.

Dependent Benefits

Social Security can also provide support to:

• Children under age 18

• Children under 19 still in high school

• Disabled adult children (disability must have started before age 22)

• Younger spouses caring for children under 16 or disabled dependents

These benefits are up to 50% of a living parent’s PIA or 75% if the parent is deceased.
But they are subject to the Family Maximum Rule — a cap on how much can be paid out on one work record, no matter how many dependents qualify.

WEP, GPO & The Social Security Fairness Act

If you’ve worked in a job where Social Security taxes weren’t withheld — such as a teacher, firefighter, or public employee — you may have been affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These rules often reduce Social Security benefits for people receiving “non-covered” pensions.

But thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law in 2025, those penalties are no longer applied. If you or someone you know fits this category, you may now be eligible for full benefits.

The Earnings Test: What Counts and What Doesn’t

If you claim Social Security before reaching your FRA and continue working, you may be subject to the Earnings Test — where your benefit is temporarily reduced if your income exceeds certain limits.

What counts:

• Wages

• Net self-employment income

What doesn’t:

• Pensions

• IRA withdrawals

• Rental income

• Investment earnings

In 2025, the earnings limits are:

• $23,400 if you’re under FRA for the full year

• $62,160 in the year you reach FRA (before your birthday month)

After FRA, there’s no earnings limit.

Why This Matters for Your Income Floor

Spousal, survivor, and dependent benefits can provide essential support — especially when you’re coordinating income across other sources like pensions, annuities, IRAs, or whole life insurance.

They’re part of what I call your Income Floor — the foundation of safe, predictable income you can count on in retirement. But most people never learn these strategies… and that’s exactly why I created the Retirement Income School™.

If you want to see what you're eligible for, start by getting your personalized Social Security Roadmap at www.SocialSecurity.Solutions. It’s the first step to making smarter — and more confident — retirement decisions.

Ready to Retire Financially Relaxed?

My goal is to help you eliminate the fear of running out of money, avoid costly mistakes, and retire with confidence and security. When you have safe, predictable income in place, you’re free to actually enjoy retirement — not just worry your way through it.

👉 Learn more at the Retirement Income School™
📞 Want to talk? Schedule a Retirement Income Q&A Call — I’d love to support you.

This is your chance to learn what you wish school had taught you so you can learn how to keep your money safe and make it last, so you can enjoy retirement!

DISCLAIMERS

The information in this podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Retirement Income School™ and Dr. Amanda Barrientez do not provide individual investment recommendations. Always consult with a licensed advisor or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed.

As a Registered Social Security Analyst (RSSA), I am an independent professional and am not affiliated with or employed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency. The Social Security information I provide is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.