Q: “If both my spouse and I are entitled to Social Security benefits, is there any reduction in our payments because we are married?”
A: No. We calculate lifetime earnings independently to determine each spouse’s Social Security benefit amount, and couples are not penalized simply because they are married. When each member of a married couple meets all other eligibility requirements to receive Social Security retirement benefits, each spouse receives a monthly benefit amount based on his or her own earnings.
If one member of the couple earned low wages or failed to earn enough Social Security credits to be insured for retirement benefits, he or she may be eligible to receive benefits as a spouse.
Q: “How do I change my citizenship status on my Social Security record?”
A: To change the citizenship shown on our records you need to: