One of the best benefits of Social Security is that individuals can receive benefits based on their partner's work history, known as spousal benefits. With Social Security spousal benefits, someone is eligible to receive up to 50% of their spouse's PIA, assuming they claim benefits at their FRA.

If you want to do your own calculations, you can check your estimated benefit at different ages with your Social Security Administration account.

Social Security benefits form the backbone of retirement income for many Americans, yet the system's complexity often leads to costly mistakes. With thousands of rules and exceptions, navigating when to claim benefits can be daunting.