The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 eliminated some of the attractive Social Security claiming options that were available previously. In several past columns, I have addressed the effect of the law.

I pointed out that the “restricted application” is being done away with, but it is still available for some spouses and some divorcees. It allows them to apply for spousal benefits when they reach their full retirement age and then, at age 70, to apply for benefits based on their work record.

Anybody who waits until age 70 to file for benefits on their own work record gets delayed retirement credits — a boost to their benefit by 8 percent for every year they defer filing past their FRA. By filing a restricted application for spousal benefits, a person gets those credits while also getting a spousal benefit. That’s a great deal, and it’s going away for most people.

Those for whom this option remains available were born on or before Jan. 1, 1954. The option is only available to individuals who have reached their FRA.

Unfortunately, many Social Security representatives are not aware of this. I have received many emails from readers who have learned about this option and waited until FRA to apply for it, only to find that Social Security representatives are not aware that it is still permitted.

All Social Security representatives should be aware of this option and who is eligible to take advantage of it. If you contact SSA, either on the phone or in person, and a representative either tells you the option is not available or indicates she is not aware of it, insist on speaking to a supervisor. Do not accept any SSA representative’s indication that there is no such option.

Not every individual who meets the criteria for restricted application should use it. It makes sense only if your age 70 benefit based on your work record (including delayed retirement credits) will exceed your spousal benefit.

Here are some examples. Assume your spousal benefit at FRA would be $1,000. Assume also that your benefit at FRA based on your work record is $1,000. If you don’t use the restricted spousal option, your benefit at age 70 would be unchanged. However, if you do exercise the restricted option, your benefit would increase by 8 percent per year from your FRA to age 70, for a total increase of 32 percent. Your benefit would be $1,320 per month instead of $1,000 per month. If you live until 80, your increase in income would total $38,400.

Even if your FRA income based on your work record was slightly more than $1,000, the restricted option would still make sense, even though from FRA to age 70 your income would be slightly lower. The 8 percent increase per year would still be advantageous for you if you live beyond age 70.

The option is available to some individuals who are divorced. Individuals who were divorced after at least 10 years of marriage and who remain single are eligible for ex-spousal benefits. These individuals can use this option only if they were born on January 1, 1954 or earlier and they wait until their FRA to file for ex-spousal benefits.

If you meet these requirements, you can file for the restricted option. If your benefit at age 70, based on your work record, would not exceed your ex-spousal benefit, then the option does not have any advantage for you.

It is important for both spouses and individuals who are divorced to realize that they can only use this option if they wait until their FRA to file for spousal benefits. For many, this may be difficult. But it certainly is a worthwhile option for many who can afford to wait and whose age 70 benefit, based on their work record, exceeds the spousal or ex-spousal benefit.

Elliot Raphaelson welcomes questions and comments at raphelliot@gmail.com.