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
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Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
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Douglas D.
I am a 79 year old man and receive a pension from Louisiana State Municipal Police Officers retirement system. I am not vested in Social Security, not enough quarters. My wife has a partial State Retirement Pension and receives a small amount of Social Security Pension beneifits. Do I qualify for Spousal Benefits under my wifes Social Security Benefits.
S.D.
Hi, Douglas. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. The Social Security Administration is awaiting the possible final enactment of the Social Security Fairness Act into law and rules for implementation. We will provide more information on our website, ssa.gov as it becomes available. We hope this helps.
Kay
Hello, im a widow and have been for 14 years, how can I find out if I’m eligible for widows benefits? I’m 60 years old.
S.D.
Hi, Kay. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. You may be able to get surviving spouse benefits as early as age 60. However, if you’re working, the amount of your earnings may affect your eligibility for benefits. For more information, visit our Survivors Planner. To discuss your eligibility for surviving spouse benefits with a representative, please call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Joe B.
My Wife (age 64) will be retiring next month. I will be retiring in 3 years at Full Retirement Age of 67. Does my wife have to apply for Spousial Benfits next month? or apply for her own monthly Benefit and reapply for Spousial Benefits in 3 years when I retire at Full Benefits (67 yrs old) Will My Retirement Benefit remain the same?
S.D.
Hi, Joe. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. Your wife can apply for her retirement benefits now, then apply for spouse’s benefits in 3 years when you start receiving your Social Security benefits. At that time, if her benefits as a spouse are greater than her own retirement benefit, she’ll get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse amount. Her spouse’s benefits will not reduce your benefits. If you and your wife both have a personal my Social Security account, you can view an estimate of the benefits she could receive based on your earnings history. To learn more about spouse’s benefits, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. When you and your wife are ready to apply for Social Security, the most convenient way is to use our online application. We hope this helps.
Nick S.
Hi, I am 71, I started taking SS at my FRA which was 66 years.
My wife is 64 and she was home maker for long time and started working late, however she completed 40 credits. She is planning to start SS at her FRA which is 67 years.
I understand that if she files for spousal benefits which will be 50% of my monthly benefits amount.
So my question is that 50% of my current monthly benefit or 50% of the amount when I started at my FRA which was when I was 66?
Thank you very much!
M W.
My wife will be turning 67 next year. She took her benefits at 62 when her job was eliminated. I turn 65 in a few months and not sure if I will retire this year or next. Is my wife entitled to half of mine or do I have to be 67 first for her to qualify for that?
S.D.
Hi, M Webb. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. Your wife can apply for spouse’s benefits after you apply for your Social Security benefits. If her benefits as a spouse are greater than her own retirement benefit, she’ll get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse amount. However, her combined benefit will not equal half your benefit amount because she started receiving her reduced benefits before her full retirement age. To learn more about spouse’s benefits, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. When you are ready to apply for Social Security, the most convenient way is to use our online application. We hope this helps.
Manuel
My wife is receiving benefits at age 62 and she is getting 1200 a month. Is she elegible to receive the spousal benefits to get 50% of my 3100 a month benefits?
Please advise.
S.S.
Hello. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your wife’s retirement benefit, she may be able to get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse’s amount. For more information, visit our Benefits for Spouses page. To speak with a representative about your eligibility for spouse’s benefits and your retirement benefits, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
James B.
I have been told by two Social Security representatives that because my wife is permanently disabled she still can get 50% of my retirement amount (FRA) even though she is not yet 67 years old but over 62 and has been disabled for at least 6 years.
However, I would like to see that in writing before going to the local Social Security office to apply for her as her representative payee, because I have been told at a local office of Social Security that this is NOT possible.
So my concern is two persons on the Social Security National phone number tell me it is a standard policy, the local office does not seem to know it. I would like something in writing to verify what I heard when I go back to apply for my wife’s higher benefits now that I am at FRA.
Please advise, thank you.
S.D.
Hi, James. Thanks for reading our blog and for your comments. If your wife’s benefits as a spouse are higher than her own disability benefits, she may get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse’s amount. However, your wife’s combined benefit will be less than half your full retirement age benefit if she starts receiving her spouse’s benefit before her full retirement age. For more information, visit our Benefits for Spouses page and Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Jennifer
I’m 52. Spouse is 60. Been married almost 20 years. I’m disabled but do not have the work credits to qualify for disability but I am disabled. At what age do I qualify for my spouse’s SS benefits if we divorce? Is there a way to qualify for spousal benefits for disability if we divorce? Do I have any options?
rar r.
im84yearsold.dontgetmuchss.doiqualifiedundermywifss
PD
Hi, I will be 62 in October. If I take half of my spouses benefit and he started collecting at 62, is it still half of his FRA amount or the amount he started collecting at 62? Thanks you!
Thomas H.
I have the same question as PD