10. Part II: Social Security Spousal, Survivor & Dependent Benefits Most People Miss

Want Your RSSA® Social Security Roadmap? Get it Here:www.SocialSecurity.Solutions🎥 The YouTube version of this video is here: www.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool✍🏼 The Blog Version of this video is here: www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/blog ------------------- Most people think Social Security is just a retirement check based on their own work history — but what if you could qualify for benefits through a spouse, an ex-spouse, or even a deceased partner? In this Retirement Income School™ lesson, I’m diving into the most overlooked Social Security benefits: spousal, survivor, and dependent benefits — and how they can significantly increase your monthly income if claimed correctly. You’ll learn: Who qualifies and how these benefits are calculated What dual entitlement means and how remarriage affects eligibility Why these rules matter so much for your overall retirement income strategy This is Part II of a 3-part Social Security series, so if you missed Part I (“Is Social Security Going Broke? Here’s the Truth”), be sure to check it out first. And in Part III, I’ll walk through a real-life Social Security Roadmap so you can see how to maximize your benefits using your actual numbers. Want your own roadmap? Visit www.SocialSecurity.Solutions to create yours today — and I’ll follow up to help you make sense of it all. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro: The most overlooked Social Security benefits 01:20 – What you’ll learn in this episode 02:00 – Reminder: This is part of a 3-part series9. Part I: Is Social Security Going Broke? The Truth You Need to Know 03:00 – How Social Security benefits are calculated (35-year rule) 05:45 – AIME and PIA: What they are and why they matter 07:20 – Retirement benefit eligibility: Credits, age, and timing 09:00 – Claiming early vs. waiting: How timing affects monthly benefit 11:00 – Spousal benefits (eligibility, amounts, and misconceptions) 14:00 – Divorced spousal benefits and independent entitlement 17:00 – Understanding dual entitlement and the spousal “top-off” 21:00 – Survivor benefits explained: Eligibility and strategy 24:00 – Dependent benefits (for children, disabled adults, and caregivers) 26:30 – The Family Maximum Rule: How it caps total benefits 28:00 – Social Security Fairness Act: Repeal of WEP & GPO 30:00 – Earnings Test: What counts, what doesn’t, and 2025 limits 32:30 – Tying it all back to your income floor 33:00 – How to get your own RSSA Roadmapwww.SocialSecurity.Solutions Slide stats and content is resourced from RSSA + SSA. SHOW LINKS 📅 Want to Find Out More?Schedule a Q&A Call with Dr. Amanda 💰 Join Us in the Retirement Income School™www.RetirementIncome.School 📽️ Watch Retirement Income School™ Content on YouTubewww.youtube.com/@RetirementIncomeSchool 💰 Watch The Guaranteed Income Blueprint™www.retirementsolutionsfinancial.com/guaranteed-income-blueprint 📬 Contact Dr. AmandaEmail: [email protected]: 1-866-444-2997LinkedIn: @RetirementIncomeSchool About Dr. Amanda Dr. Amanda is the founder of Retirement Solutions Financial™ and creator of the Retirement Income School™ and Guaranteed Income Blueprint™. After losing her father and helping her mom navigate retirement, she felt called to help others avoid the stress and confusion of planning alone. She specializes in safe money strategies using dividend-paying whole life insurance, fixed index annuities, long-term care coverage, and social security claiming strategy. Her mission? To help you protect your wealth and enjoy a secure, stress-free retirement with confidence. ------------------- DISCLAIMERS The information in this podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Retirement Income School™ and Dr. Amanda Barrientez do not provide individual investment recommendations. Always consult with a licensed advisor or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed.As a Registered Social Security Analyst (RSSA), I am an independent professional and am not affiliated with or employed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency. The Social Security information I provide is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute financial, legal, or tax advice.