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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Chris
Just got a notice that they are reducing my SSD. I was getting a percentage of my husbands SS, which was $207. I have stage 3 cancer which can come back and I am on a suppressor. I really need that extra $207 to boost my small amount I receive and yes I worked for over 47 years. Why would they take it away after getting the $207 for a year?
S.S.
Hi, Chris. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. To speak with a representative about your 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.
Jim Y.
My spouse just filed for social security at full retirement age and it has been approved. I filed early but I am at full retirement age now (68). How do I file for 50% of my spouses since his is greater than my amount currently received.
T.Y.
Thanks for reading our blog, Jim. Since you are eligible on your own record, we will pay that amount first. If you are also eligible for a higher amount as a spouse, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. To find more information, visit our Benefits Planner: Retirement | Benefits For Your Family | SSA. We hope this helps.
Laverne S.
My husband passed away recently he has lived on SSI all his life due to a disability can I get spouse benefits
S.S.
Hello Laverne. We are sorry for your loss. Thank you for reading our blog and for your question. Unfortunately, survivor benefits are not eligible for those who receive SSI. When a spouse passes away after working long enough in a job where he or she paid Social Security taxes, their children or spouses could receive monthly Survivor benefits. You can find more information on our survivors benefits page. We hope this information helps.
Amelia J.
My spouse died when he was 56, I was 52 and our children were 13 and 16 years old. I received survivor benefits until they turned 18. I plan to apply for social security at the full retirement age 66 and 10 months. His benefit would be about $771 more than my benefit. Will I still be able to receive up to his full benefit or did using the survivor benefit make that invalid?
S.S.
Hi, Amelia. 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 own retirement benefit, you 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.
Leroy R.
I (ASR) am presently married to LR for approximately 4 years. LR was married to AJR she was a nurse and passed away from cancer (she had Social Security)LR did not have Social Security because he did not have 40 quarters. He was in the Army for 2 yrs then worked for a tire company worked probably 2 yrs. LR is now retired from Pearl Harbor. During his time being a federal worker he had a different type of medical insurance and was told he could not qualify for Medicare. Who can we talk to get more information. On Social Security or Medicare from his 1st wife. Thank you!
S.S.
Hi, Leroy. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. To speak with a representative about your benefits, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Colleen W.
me and my husband Both receive benefits. I receive .ssi Hi Receives Retirement. I am.
Sixty two my husband will be turning sixty five in september 24,2024. He applied for medicare..and Social security center letter saying that they’re going to take. A $174.70 Out of his retirement a check per month. A monthly premium for part b medicare. He only brings in $1700 A month. We went and got another insurance .AArp To cover him on part b. That was free to us. So with this Coverage social security will not have to take out $174.70 Is that correct??
Judy
From what I understand, they will still take out that Medicare payment even though you got a different plan. My mom got $1200 Social Security and they took out that Medicare payment of $174 from that even though she had the AARP Medicare advantage plan which cost her an additional $23 a month. So that left her with $1,003 per month. Poverty level. So I would check into that. I’m just telling you my mom’s experience.
John
The Medicare gap or supplemental plans only apply to the 20 percent deductible of Plan B, which is not capped as far as I know. You still have to pay the cost of Medicare B. AARP Advantage only applies to the uncapped 20 % Medicare B deductible. The plan caps the deductible like the Obamacare policies.
Vilma R.
Good Day,
I retired in 2019 at 65yo & was getting pension from SSA. My husband who haven’t worked & has no income will be turning 62yo this dec 14, 2024, I just want to know if he is entitled for spousal benefit?
If he is eligible, how can i apply for it? could it be online? or i could set an appointment to go to SSA office.
in case my husband is entitled for spousal benefit, who will apply, will it be my for his behalf? thank you so much.
Ana
My husband did his taxes for many years but never had social security number. He never collected social security
He passed away.
Am I eligible to receive his retirement benifit ? I still don’t have my own social security and I am not legal residents in US but my daughter can sponsor me and I can become a resident. Just want to find out if I am eligible to receive the benifits
vicki
If my husband has been receiving disability benefits and I am getting ready to retire at full retirement age can he apply to receive the spousal benefit when I apply for social security.
Jane J.
Hello, my husband and I have been separated for over 30 years. I have tried to divorce him however I don’t know where he lives or if he is alive or dead. How can I find out if I am eligible to receive his ss benefits. Thank you for your assistance.