Can I take a spousal or survivor benefit now while letting my own benefit grow?

For survivor benefits, yes — and this is one of the most valuable remaining sequencing strategies. A widow or widower can claim a survivor benefit first and let their own retirement benefit keep earning delayed credits until 70, then switch to their own larger benefit, or do it in the reverse order, whichever yields more over your lifetime. Survivor and retirement benefits are separate filings, so you are not forced to take both at once. For ordinary spousal benefits, however, the old restricted-application strategy was eliminated for anyone born after January 1, 1954, so most people can no longer claim a spousal benefit alone while delaying their own. The deemed-filing rule now triggers your own benefit too. If you are widowed, time the two claims carefully — see wealthserene.com/tools/social-security-optimizer.