Millions of older Americans rely on Social Security benefits for their daily needs. But now the Congressional budget has taken away two Social Security strategies that many seniors have relied on to make ends meet.

“File-and-Suspend” and “File-and-Restrict” are two tactics that many older married couples have used for years to increase the amounts they receive from Social Security, according to Fox News. Some critics have called these options loopholes for wealthy people that were inadvertently created in the “Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act” that Congress passed in 2000.

But for many seniors, the funds from these tactics are essential, especially for those who live in areas of the country where the cost of living is higher, such as New York or San Francisco.

Seniors who use the “File-and-Suspend” method has one spouse, usually whoever has been earning more money, file for Social Security benefits on reaching full retirement age and then immediately suspending the benefit. While this means the higher earner does not receive a check right away, the spouse can now file for a spousal benefit based on the other, higher earner’s work history.

The spouse who suspended the benefit accumulates an 8 percent “delayed retirement credit” for each year the suspension remains in place, up to four years, or age 70. At that time, the higher earning spouse can start receiving a benefit with a 32 percent premium.

In marriages where both spouses have worked and earned Social Security benefits, “File-and-Restrict” is popular. First, the lower earning spouse files and begins receiving benefits. At full retirement age, the other spouse files only for the 50 percent spousal benefit, delaying claims on the higher earnings and triggering the 8 percent delayed retirement credit.

Again, after four years, the higher earning spouse can drop the spousal benefit and begin taking the now 32 percent higher personal benefit.

But soon both of these options will be off the table. Six months after the 2016 budget bill is signed, the File-and-Suspend method comes to an end, other than for those seniors who have already taken the option. File-and-Restrict is also banned under the budget bill, except for those who turn 62 by the end of 2015.