Do You Qualify for Spousal Social Security Benefits?

Social Security spousal benefits could be easier to collect than you might think.

Work for years. Decide to retire. Claim Social Security. Those are the steps most people think about with Social Security retirement benefits. However, there's also another path.

Social Security offers spousal benefits for eligible individuals. These benefits allow a person to claim benefits based on their spouse's work records. Do you qualify for Social Security spousal benefits? To find out, answer the following four questions.

1. How long have you been married?

With the word "spousal" describing these benefits, you'd be correct to assume that you need to be currently or formerly married to be eligible. For those who are currently married, the marriage needs to have occurred at least a year earlier t