Explore Strategies: 10 Ways to Maximize Social Security Benefits
As long as one spouse has claimed retirement benefits or filed and suspended benefits, the other spouse, who is at least full retirement age, can file a restricted claim for spousal benefits. That allows the spouse to collect half of his or her mate's full retirement age benefit now and postpone collecting his or her own larger retirement benefit until 70. Only one spouse can file a restricted claim for spousal benefits.