Understanding Social Security can feel complicated, especially when life events like divorce or widowhood come into play.

In this episode, I join Karen Covy on her podcast, Off The Fence, to walk through the rules that often matter most for women.

We discuss how full retirement age works, how spousal, ex-spousal, and survivor benefits are determined, and what to know about the 10-year marriage rule. Our conversation also covers the Social Security Fairness Act and how it affects certain workers with pensions.

Together, we outline key considerations that can help listeners better understand their options when planning for future income.

Key Topics:

• How full retirement age determines your benefit amount and why this number is critical to every Social Security decision
• The difference between spousal, ex-spousal, and survivor benefits, and how remarriage affects your eligibility
• The 10-year marriage rule for divorced individuals, and what documentation you need to claim benefits
• How the Social Security Fairness Act eliminated penalties that primarily affected women with pensions
• Strategic timing considerations when you’re still working and approaching retirement age
• And more!

Next week, Karen will be joining me on the Simply Retirement Podcast to discuss how women can move forward with strength and strategy after divorce. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.

Resources:

• Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap
• Ultimate Guide to Women’s Social Security Success

Connect with Eric Blake:

• www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com
• Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter
• Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast
• Blake Wealth Management
• YouTube

Connect with Karen Covy:

• LinkedIn: Karen Covy
• Website: Karen Covy
• Facebook: Karen Covy
• Instagram: @karencovylawyer
• X: Karen Covy
• YouTube: Karen Covy
• TikTok: Karen Covy

About our Guest:

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach, Lawyer, Mediator, Author, Speaker, and Podcaster. She coaches busy professionals and business owners all over the world to make clear, confident decisions about their most important relationships. She also helps them navigate through divorce with less conflict, unnecessary expense, and needless drama so that they can create the life they truly desire sooner rather than later. Karen is the author of When Happily Ever After Ends: How to Survive Your Divorce Emotionally, Financially, and Legally. She is also the creator of the online divorce programs, The Divorce Road Map 3.0 and How to Successfully Mediate Your Divorce, as well as the host of the podcast, Off the Fence: Mastering Decision-Making Divorce and More.

Many people nearing retirement are unsure how recent rule changes might affect what they can receive.

What happens when long-standing limits disappear, and families finally gain access to benefits they were denied for years?

In this special replay, we revisit one of our most crucial and widely discussed episodes of the year: the one focusing on the Social Security Fairness Act.

I walk through the details of the Social Security Fairness Act and highlight its significant impact, especially on survivor and spousal benefits for women across the country. I explain how removing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) could open new income opportunities. Additionally, I discuss what these potential changes mean for teachers and public sector workers, and the immediate steps listeners should consider taking now.

Key takeaways:

• How eliminating WEP and GPO shifts eligibility for many women previously reduced or blocked from benefits
• Why survivor and spousal payments may now be available even if pensions once prevented them
• How timing, age, and filing strategies still influence benefit amounts
• Action steps for reviewing statements, applying promptly, and preparing for retroactive payments
• Why staying informed is essential as Social Security adjusts to this major policy change
• And more!

Resources:

• Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap
• Visit SSA.gov: To check Social Security statements and eligibility
• #14 – Top 5 Things Every Woman Should Know About Social Security
• #24 – Understanding Spousal (and Ex-Spousal) Social Security Benefits
• #32 – The Essentials of Social Security: An Insider’s Insights to Help You Plan with Confidence
• #37 – Top 5 Questions on Social Security Survivor Benefits

Connect with Eric Blake:

• www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com
• Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter
• Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast
• Blake Wealth Management
• YouTube

Retirement planning doesn’t end once you stop working; it evolves.

In this episode, I wrap up my seven essential strategies for successful investing in retirement, focusing on two of the most pivotal: managing your tax burden and deciding whether to work with an advisor.

I share how to plan ahead for taxes, the importance of timing withdrawals, and why every woman deserves a seat at the financial table.

Key Takeaways:

• Why emotional decisions during market downturns often lead to poor outcomes
• How to manage your lifetime tax liability, not just your yearly one
• Why your retirement income plan should start 2–5 years before retiring
• The key questions to ask before hiring a financial advisor
• The importance of involving both spouses, especially women, in financial conversations
• And more!

Resources:

• Get Your FREE Simply Retirement Roadmap
• Website: Savvy Ladies
• Website: Purse Strings
• #48 – How to Pay Taxes in Retirement: What You Need to Know
• #54 – How Social Security Gets Taxed: What You Need to Know
• #65 – How the New Tax Law Could Impact Your Retirement
• #75 – Year-End Tax Planning Checklist for 2025
• #80 – Investing in Retirement – Part 1: It Starts with a Plan
• #81 – Investing in Retirement – Part 2: Changing the Way You Think About Retirement
• #82 – Investing in Retirement – Part 3: The Building Blocks of Your Retirement Portfolio

Connect with Eric Blake:

• www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com
• Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter
• Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast
• Blake Wealth Management

YouTube