I am self employed and my wife has not worked most of our 37 year marriage. I have always submited our taxes as married filing jointly. For 10-12 years my wife has received some oil royalties that avg 1,200/yr. and has never recieved any income listed under her social security statement each year. These are reported on a 1099. But this year her oil royalties will be around 14,000 for the year. These will also be reported on a 1099. My question is, if I still submit our taxes jointly will she now see this income show up on her social security or should we file seperately? I don't know why she has never had a report from the social security on her income showing her oil rolalties, but I would like her to get her social security benefits from this income. She is now 58.