8. Navigating Life Events: Spousal and Survivor Benefits

Major life events directly impact how the SSA calculates and distributes your benefits. If your marital status changes in late 2026 or 2027, your payment will likely change as well.

If a spouse passes away, the surviving spouse is eligible to inherit the deceased partner’s benefit, provided it is larger than their own. You cannot collect both your own retirement benefit and a survivor benefit simultaneously; the SSA pays the higher of the two amounts. Stepping up to a higher survivor benefit can significantly increase your monthly check.

Divorce can also trigger benefit changes. If your marriage lasted at least 10 years and you are currently unmarried, you may be eligible to claim benefits based on your ex-spouse’s earnings record. If your ex-spouse’s record yields a higher payout than your own work history, coordinating this transition will alter your 2027 payments.