Understanding the intricacies of Social Security benefits is crucial for couples planning their retirement strategy. Recent legislative changes have altered how spousal benefits can be claimed, impacting financial planning.

Biden estimated the bill should lead to an average monthly increase of $360 for certain public employees and their spouses and survivors. The outgoing president said more than 2.5 million Americans will receive a lump sum payment worth "thousands of dollars" to compensate for the benefits they should have received last year.