Do You Qualify for Social Security Spouse’s Benefits?
Reading Time: 3 MinutesLast Updated: July 15, 2024
Social Security benefits are a crucial part of the retirement income for millions of Americans.
If you don’t have enough Social Security credits to get benefits on your own work record or your own benefit is small, you may be able to receive benefits as a spouse. Your spouse must be receiving benefits for you to get benefits on their work record. If your spouse does not receive retirement or disability, you’ll have to wait to apply on your spouse’s record.
In addition, to be eligible for spouse’s benefits, you must be one of the following:
- 62 years of age or older.
- Any age if you have a child who is younger than 16 in your care or has a disability and is entitled to benefits on your spouse’s record.
How the spouse’s benefit is determined
Your full spouse’s benefit could be up to one-half the amount your spouse is eligible to receive at their full retirement age. If you choose to receive your spouse’s benefits before you reach full retirement age, your payment will be permanently reduced.
Your spouse may have postponed or plan to postpone their retirement to increase their monthly benefit amount by earning delayed retirement credits. However, your maximum spouse’s benefit remains 50% of their full retirement age benefit, not their higher amount including delayed retirement credits. (Your benefit as a surviving spouse would be based on the higher amount.)
If you wait until you reach full retirement age to receive benefits, you’ll receive your full spouse’s benefit amount. You may also get your full spouse’s benefit if you are under full retirement age, but care for a child and one of the following applies:
- The child is younger than age 16.
- The child has a disability and is entitled to benefits on your spouse’s record.
Payments to family members do not decrease your spouse’s retirement or disability benefit.
If you get retirement and spouse’s benefits
If you’re eligible for retirement and spouse’s benefits, you must apply for both, and you’ll receive a combined benefit equaling the higher spouse’s amount.
This requirement is called “deemed filing” because when you apply for one benefit you are “deemed” to have applied for the other benefit.
If you receive retirement on your own record, we will pay that amount first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own benefit, you will get a combination of benefits that equals the higher spouse’s benefit.
Consider this example: Sandy is eligible for a monthly retirement benefit of $1,000 and a spouse’s benefit of $1,250. If she waits for Social Security until her full retirement age, she will receive her own $1,000 retirement benefit. We will add $250 from her spouse’s benefit, for a total of $1,250 a month. Sandy only gets an additional spouse’s benefit because her own benefit is less than half her spouse’s full retirement age benefit.
How to apply online
Want to apply for your retirement or your spouse’s benefit or both? Are you at least 61 years and 9 months old? If you answered yes, visit our website to get started today. If you and your spouse both have a personal my Social Security account, you can view an estimate of the benefits you could receive based on your spouse’s record.
Divorced spouses can get benefits, too
Are you divorced from a marriage that lasted at least 10 years? You may be able to get benefits on your former spouse’s record. Our rules for divorced spouse’s benefits are slightly different. You can find out more by visiting our Family benefits page.
For more information about spouse’s benefits, please read our Retirement Benefits publication.
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Tags: General Information, retirement benefits, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
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Hannah G.
I’ve been searching the web and social security website and have also logged into MySS account and see no way to apply for spousal benefits under my husbands benefit. I would think this would be easy being I’m already drawing my social security and Medicare.
Paul F.
I am a 74 year old Civil Service reteire who does not qualify for Social Security Income. My wife is 73 and is currently collecting Social Security. Can I collect a spousal benefit if I personally am not qualified to collect SSI? Please let me know.
Tracy
My mother passed away July 2024 and my father has advanced Parkinson’s with limited speech and motor skills. I’m trying to help him figure our benefits. My mother’s SS benefits were greater than my father’s by about $400 per month. He still has not received her SS amount, the higher of the two. Both worked and contributed to SS their entire careers, so pensions other retirement. Her death certificate was submited and her benefits stopped in August. He also never received the lump some one-time benefit of $255. Going to a SS office is not an option with his limited mobility and we’ve waited on hold for hours trying to speak with someone. Just looking for a little help…Thank you!!!
Vera B.
I’m wanting to apply and collect spousal SS benefits. I was married for 24 years. I’m 63 years old.
Lisa P.
I just to 61. I know I have to wait but would love a phone chat with a represent.How do I find it on a phone
Thanks Lisa
Kevin L.
My wife and I both filed for SS benefits at full retirement. She worked in public school system and is getting only $362 /$187 a month after taxes and Medicare. Can she collect the difference between my benefit at time of full retirement and hers?
Kevin
My wife is 62 and retiring. I’m younger and have another 12-15 years working before I retire. I’m the high earner, and my wife’s SS payment is much smaller than what mine will be someday. Can she start taking the spousal benefit now even though I’m not retired or does she have to wait another 12-15 years till I retire before she qualifies for half of my amount?
Mary
My husband is 62 and receiving ss retirement. I will be turning 62 shortly and filed on the phone with a representative. My husband was the breadwinner and I did not work the last 30 years. The representative said I would be getting $1122 per month. Then a week later I received a letter stating I would be getting $759 per month. When I logged in to my account it said it was still processing my spousal benefit application. Does that mean I will get an updated letter stating that I will be getting the $1122 a month? I’m guessing that they first calculate my amount and then calculate the spousal benefit amount and adjust the final payment amount.