To determine the amount of their spouse's or partner's supplement or the amount of
their widow(er)'s benefits, the SVB requires a copy of the spouse's, partner's or
widow(er)'s own earnings record. This presents no problem with widow(er)'s claims or when a spouse
files a claim in his/her own right because his/her application permits disclosure
of the earnings under the “routine use” provisions. However, when the insured person might be eligible for a spouse's or
a partner's supplement and the spouse has not filed an application, his/her consent
to release earnings information is required.