Should the higher earner delay Social Security to protect the surviving spouse?

In most married households, yes. When one spouse dies, the survivor keeps the larger of the two benefits and loses the smaller one. So whichever check is bigger becomes the household's income for the rest of the survivor's life — often 10 or more years for the longer-living spouse. By having the higher earner delay to age 70, you maximize that bigger benefit and lock in the largest possible survivor amount, fully protected by future COLAs. The lower earner can often claim earlier to provide cash flow in the meantime. This single move can add tens of thousands of dollars over a long widowhood. The main requirements are decent health for the higher earner and enough other savings to bridge the years until 70. Run both records together at wealthserene.com/tools/social-security-optimizer to confirm the strategy fits.