If your spouse never worked or worked very part-time, they may not be eligible for Social Security based on their own earnings record. Instead, they may be limited to spousal benefit from Social Security. Your spouse may, in that case, be entitled to up to 50% of your monthly Social Security benefit at full retirement age.

Here’s how many Social Security retirement checks go out to people 99 and older. Hint: It’s far fewer than Trump claims.

One critical aspect to consider is that you cannot receive both survivor benefits and your own Social Security retirement benefits simultaneously. The SSA will pay you the higher