Why Did They Cut My Wife's Social Security Benefit in Half, and What Should We Do Next?
Verify that the letter you received is actually from the Social Security Administration before responding.
If you're dually eligible for benefits, your spousal benefit could decrease without your overall check amount changing.
You can always file an appeal if you disagree with a change to your Social Security benefit.
The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook ›
As always, The Motley Fool cannot and does not provide personalized investing or financial advice. This information is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified financial advisor for any questions regarding your personal financial situation. If you'd like to submit your question for feedback, you can do so here.
You depend on your Social Security checks to stay financially secure in retirement, so it's natural to be worried about anything that could jeopardize them, whether that's benefit taxes or the possibility of the program running out of money. Even if you have savings of your own, nothing quite beats the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have a monthly check coming no matter what.
That's why it can be really alarming to receive a notice that your benefit's about to get cut in half. That's what happened to one married couple a few months ago after they'd been on Social Security for 10 years. The couple took to Reddit (NYSE: RDDT), asking for advice on how to proceed:
Why did they cut my wife's benefits and what can we do?byu/BigChemist-1591 inSocialSecurity
Fortunately, their story had a happy ending. But it still caused them a lot of stress. Here's what you ought to know if you ever get a similar notice about an unexpected benefit reduction.
In the case of the Reddit couple, they received a notice that the wife's spousal Social Security benefits would unexpectedly be cut in half. They'd both applied for the program a decade earlier when they were at their full retirement ages (FRAs). Her spousal benefit -- equal to half her partner's retirement benefit -- was worth more than her own retirement benefit, so that's the amount she'd been receiving.
The letter they got said that her spousal benefit would be cut and that she had 60 days to appeal the decision. The couple was left confused and worried.
If this ever happens to you, the first thing to do is examine the letter carefully to make sure it's actually from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Social Security scams exist, and they're always evolving. Threatening to reduce or stop benefits is a common tactic scammers use to trick you into handing over your personal information so they can "fix" it for you.
If you're not sure whether the letter you've received is real, it's best to reach out to the SSA directly for clarification. Do not use any phone numbers, websites, or email addresses provided in the letter. Instead, look up your local Social Security office's contact information online and use that.
In the case of the couple in the Reddit post, the wife was dually entitled to benefits. That means she worked long enough to qualify for a retirement benefit on her own, and she was also entitled to a spousal benefit due to her marriage. You may have heard that Social Security only gives you the larger of the two in this case, but that's not exactly true.
The reality is, if you qualify for a retirement benefit, you always get it. But you might get a portion of your spousal benefit as well if that's higher than your retirement benefit. For example, say your own retirement benefit is $1,000 per month and your spousal benefit is worth $1,500 per month. Social Security would give you $1,000 of your own retirement benefit and $500 of your spousal benefit, for a total of $1,500 per month.
The letter the couple received only said her spousal benefit was decreasing. It didn't say that her monthly checks would decrease, and after a little checking with the SSA, the couple found out that it wouldn't.
While the Reddit post doesn't go into the details, it's possible the woman's own retirement benefit increased this year --- perhaps as a result of the Social Security Fairness Act. This would've decreased the spousal benefit she received, but her new, larger retirement benefit would make up the difference, so her checks would stay the same size.
If you think this is what's happening to you, it's still worth following up with the SSA to verify. You may also want to keep an eye out for more letters detailing changes to your retirement benefit.
Whenever there's a change to your Social Security benefits, you'll have the opportunity to file an appeal within 60 days if you feel the change is based on inaccurate information. The letter you receive should give you instructions on how to do this. You can also learn more about appeals on the Social Security Administration's website.
If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known could help ensure a boost in your retirement income.
One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Join Stock Advisor to learn more about these strategies.Kailey Hagen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Why Did They Cut My Wife's Social Security Benefit in Half, and What Should We Do Next? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chicago Sky Star Makes Demand After Loss on Sunday
Chicago Sky Star Makes Demand After Loss on Sunday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky lost to the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, falling to 3-10 on the WNBA season. While it ultimately goes down as another tally in a growing loss column, there were some positive developments for Chicago. Advertisement One encouraging sign for the Sky was how reserve center Elizabeth Williams performed. The 2017 All-Star tallied 16 points and five rebounds off the bench. While this marked a season-high in scoring for Williams, she had bigger things on her mind after the game. As the secretary of the WNBA Player's Association, Williams demanded player salaries begin reflecting the league's growth in recent years. Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams (1).Chris Jones-Imagn Images As reported and transcribed by Sky reporter Karli Bell, Williams issued a clear message: "On behalf on my teammates and every member of our union, I want to be clear that we remain committed to negotiating the next CBA with the league and the teams in good faith and privately, but we do want to set the record straight not for the headlines but for the fans who support us and deserve transparency about what's at stake." Advertisement She added, "This is a defining moment for the WNBA. As the league grows, it's time for a CBA that reflects our true value... We deserve a fair share, and we're demanding salaries that reflect our true value." Last month, Ben Pickman of The Athletic provided some insight into the ongoing CBA negotiations. "Players are coming to the negotiating table with several priorities, including increased salaries, a softened salary cap and more access to family planning services," he reported. "Retirement benefits that provide long-term security for players and their families are also among key priorities, and standardizing team work environments, including facility and travel accommodations as well as support staff minimums, are on the list too." Advertisement Related: Chicago Sky Announce Angel Reese Injury News After Ninth Loss This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Texas governor vetoes bill that would ban all THC products
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a bill Sunday to ban all THC consumables, allowing the booming market flush with THC-infused vapes, gummies and other products to continue to be sold across the state. Abbott, a Republican, waited until the final moment to veto the bill in what would have been one of the most restrictive THC bans in the country and a significant blow to the state's billion-dollar industry. The law would have made it a misdemeanor to own, manufacture or sell consumable THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, products and was the latest push by states to regulate THC after a 2018 federal law allowed states to regulate hemp, a similar plant to marijuana that can be synthetically processed to produce THC, the compound giving marijuana its psychoactive properties. Loopholes in existing law have allowed many THC-infused goods to enter the market across the country, including states with strict marijuana laws. Texas has some of the strictest marijuana laws in the country, prohibiting all recreational use and providing a limited medical marijuana program. The consumables market has allowed residents to legally access goods giving a similar high to marijuana. Republican lawmakers have criticized the products as dangerous due to a lack of federal oversight in how the goods are manufactured. Texas' ban is one of the more far-reaching among states that have taken similar steps. Several states, including California, have imposed age limits and restrictions on the potency of THC products. Critics of the Texas bill say it allows people who cannot access marijuana through the state's medical marijuana program to acquire goods that can provide a similar relief. Many retailers across the state also pointed to the thousands of jobs and millions in revenue the industry brings each year. Last year, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have put age restrictions on THC consumables, claiming it would hurt small businesses. ___ Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Nadia Lathan, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
15 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Texas governor vetoes bill that would ban all THC products
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a bill Sunday to ban all THC consumables, allowing the booming market flush with THC-infused vapes, gummies and other products to continue to be sold across the state. Abbott, a Republican, waited until the final moment to veto the bill in what would have been one of the most restrictive THC bans in the country and a significant blow to the state's billion-dollar industry. The law would have made it a misdemeanor to own, manufacture or sell consumable THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, products and was the latest push by states to regulate THC after a 2018 federal law allowed states to regulate hemp, a similar plant to marijuana that can be synthetically processed to produce THC, the compound giving marijuana its psychoactive properties. Loopholes in existing law have allowed many THC-infused goods to enter the market across the country, including states with strict marijuana laws. Texas has some of the strictest marijuana laws in the country, prohibiting all recreational use and providing a limited medical marijuana program. The consumables market has allowed residents to legally access goods giving a similar high to marijuana. Republican lawmakers have criticized the products as dangerous due to a lack of federal oversight in how the goods are manufactured. Texas' ban is one of the more far-reaching among states that have taken similar steps. Several states, including California, have imposed age limits and restrictions on the potency of THC products. Critics of the Texas bill say it allows people who cannot access marijuana through the state's medical marijuana program to acquire goods that can provide a similar relief. Many retailers across the state also pointed to the thousands of jobs and millions in revenue the industry brings each year. Last year, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have put age restrictions on THC consumables, claiming it would hurt small businesses. ___ Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
