Mistake No. 6: You only consider your own benefits

If you only rely on your earnings record while you file for Social Security benefits, you might be missing out on a lot of other benefits. This is especially true if you don’t have enough work credits to qualify where you want.

For example, if you were a stay-at-home parent and your spouse worked, you won’t be able to qualify for the minimum 40 work credits. Or, you might have a smaller benefit. But, you should take into consideration a larger aspect you might have avoided or forgotten about. You can still qualify for Social Security benefits if you register under your spouse’s work record.