The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 killed the restricted application strategy for anyone born after January 1, 1954, closing it to all new claimants by 2026.
Deemed filing now forces spouses to claim both spousal and personal retirement benefits simultaneously, eliminating the ability to collect one while the other grows.
Couples can still delay the higher earner's benefit to 70 for roughly 8% annual growth, and sequence survivor benefits separately from retirement benefits.
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Picture a couple in their mid-sixties. Linda spent 35 years as a hospital administrator; Mark earned less as a school counselor. As they plan their Social Security claims, Linda remembers the move her older sister used years ago. She collected a spousal check while allowing the benefit on her own work record to grow until 70. Then she then dropped the smaller payment and switched to her larger one.

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