Questions, I get questions from readers--and plenty of them are about Social Security's valuable spousal and survivor benefits.

The recent decision by Congress to phase out the file-and-suspend and restricted claim loopholes under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA) has stirred up even more interest in the topic. The decision has raised public awareness of the spousal and survivor features that remain, but the changes also have created confusion about the spousal and survivor benefits still in place.