Safeguarding Your Parents’ Retirement: The Hidden Social Security Benefit Every Adult Should Know

If you’re in your 30s or 40s, you may already be juggling kids, a mortgage, and your own retirement savings.
But what happens when your parents face a major income shift—like when one spouse passes away?

For many families, the answer lies in a little-known Social Security strategy that can make or break financial security: the spousal benefit.

Here’s why it matters:

• Up to 50% More Monthly Income
  A lower-earning or non-working spouse can collect up to half of the higher earner’s full Social Security benefit—even if they never earned 40 work credits of their own.

• No Impact on Your Parents’ Main Check
  This extra benefit does not reduce the higher earner’s payment—it’s a separate Social Security stream.

• Early or Full Retirement Choices
  Your mom or dad can start as early as 62 (about 32–35% of the higher earner’s benefit) or wait until full retirement age (66–67) to receive the full 50%.

• Built-In Survivor Protection
  If one parent delays their own Social Security claim to age 70, their monthly benefit—and the surviving spouse’s lifetime survivor benefit—grow roughly 8% each year past full retirement age.

For families with a stay-at-home parent or one with limited work history, this spousal and survivor benefit can mean the difference between struggling and stability after a loss.

Alejos Capital Group Takeaway
If you’re worried about your parents’ long-term plan, this is a practical, no-cost move to strengthen their financial foundation and protect generational wealth.

The right claiming strategy can create guaranteed, inflation-protected income for life, complementing other retirement income like dividends, real estate, or our DRIP (Dividends, Rent, Interest, Premium) approach.

Action Step
Set up a time to review your parents’ Social Security accounts together. Understanding their timeline today can secure peace of mind tomorrow.