How do you feel about non-working spouses receiving Social Security?

Asked by JLeslie (65464) February 11th, 2020 from iPhone

Basically, at the age of full retirement a non-working spouse (never has worked outside of the home) can receive 50% of their spouse’s social security benefit. They never paid in, but they get money out.

Married, breadwinner couples, where the spouse never worked make out really well. Let’s say the husband always supported the family, in retirement the couple basically will get 150% of his SS benefit.

Is that fair? Do you agree with it?

Ex spouse’s can file on their ex’s SS benefit too if they were married at least ten years. So, if the money is better from your ex than your current husband, you can take the larger from what I understand.

Just another example of why marriage has various financial protections not available to non-married couples. There is no legal contract you can draw up outside of marriage to get this type of benefit or protection.

Here’s one article about it. https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/social-security/articles/how-to-maximize-social-security-with-spousal-benefits