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Happy Valentine’s Day, Honey—Do You Want Flowers or Social Security Benefits?

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Happy Valentine’s Day, Honey—Do You Want Flowers or Social Security Benefits?
All the questions in today's column come from husbands who are asking questions about benefits for their wives.Simon Godfrey/Unsplash
Tom Margenau
Updated:

I suppose it’s normal for husbands to give some extra thought to getting something for their wives around Valentine’s Day. And if my emails are any indication, these guys weren’t just thinking of getting them some flowers or candy. They were thinking about giving them spousal benefits from Social Security.

(And before I go on, let me be politically correct. I was just trying to be cute with those opening lines. I totally understand that a husband doesn’t “give” spousal benefits to his wife. The law says she is due those benefits, and the guy really has no say-so in the matter. Still, all the questions in today’s column come from husbands who are asking questions about benefits for their wives.)

Tom Margenau
Tom Margenau
Author
Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSA’s public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” If you have a Social Security question, contact him at [email protected]
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