Gregory W. Lawrence | Source | Certified Financial Planner and Founder at Lawrence Legacy Group

IF YOU ARE MARRIED OR were married in the past, you may be eligible for spousal Social Security benefits. “Spouses that raise families and perform other valuable societal tasks are entitled to a spousal benefit based on their spouse’s primary insurance benefit,” says Jamie Hopkins, director of retirement research at Carson Group in Omaha, Nebraska. If you decide to take spousal benefits, the amount you receive will be determined by factors including your spouse’s full benefit, when you begin payments and your own work history.