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.
Please share this with your friends and family who may need it – and on social media.
Did you find this Information helpful?
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
Comments
Leave a Comment
Please review our Comment Policy before leaving a comment. For your safety, please do not post Personally Identifiable Information (such as your Social Security Number, address, phone number, email address, bank account number, or birthdate) on our blog.
Tracy C.
My spouse and I were still legally married but living in separate homes when he passed. He was on social security after he became disabled while we were living together. Am I eligible to get his social security benefits even though we were living in separate homes? If I can, at what age can I start receiving them?
Aliria Z.
Am 82 years old living in a nursing home in Bern (Switzerdland) my husband passed. We were not divorced but lived in separate cities. Am I eligible for SS benefits?
Yvette M.
Hi I’m 60 yrs old I wanted to see if I qualify for my spouse medical benefits now he is 65 and is currently receiving his benefits.
Vincent p.
Ok
Virginia S.
I am a 76 yr. Old widow. I draw 900.00 before the Medicare is taken out. Also pay 200.00 supplement insurance. I am struggling to meet my bills and by groceries. I have been drawing this without any help except from some savings that is about gone. It is for my burial. I can’t seem to get any help because of it. I need help badly. Is there anything to help me?
Guy
A friend of mine passed away recently. He was a us citizen and had just retired. I am not sure if he was drawing his social security benefits yet. He got married in the Philippines and his wife does not have her a us citizenshop. Is she eligible for survivor benefits or his social security benefits.
S.S.
Hi, Guy. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. If your friend wishes to speak with a representative, please call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Or she can contact her local Social Security office. If she’s living abroad, visit our Office of Earnings and International Operations webpage for information about service around the world. You can find more information on our survivors benefits page. We hope this information helps.
Jack M.
I am curious to understand what in the way of spousal benefits are being ended in December 2024. It is very confusing to understand if this is a specific provision or the spousal benefit itself. Thanks.
Alton G.
I am 58 and is a disabled wife. I wanted to know when my husband (now 64) retires at full retirement age of 67 will I be able to collect spousal benefits?! And if so, would I have to wait until I am at least 62? Or when he is 67 if I am even able to collect on his account. Thank you.
S.S.
Hi, Alton. 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.
Margaret M.
When my husband applies for his SS benefits will I be able to apply for spouse benefits then apply for mine at age 67
S.S.
Hi, Margaret. 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.
Nguyen D.
Will spousal benefit be phased out by end of 2024?
Karen C.
I am 53 and disabled. I wanted to know when my husband (now 63) retires at full retirement age of 67 will I be able to collect spousal benefits?! And if so, would I have to wait until I am at least 62? Or when he is 67 if I am even able to collect on his account. Thank you. I tried finding any information on this but could not find anything regarding if a person is disabled already. Thank you.
T.Y.
Thank you for your question and for reading our blog, Karen. The earliest you can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as a spouse is age 62. For more information on spouses’ benefits, please visit our FAQ and Benefits For Your Family web pages. We hope this helps.
Gail
Hi I go on disability at the age of 63 and my husband waits to take his SS at his at 67. Will I be still be able to get 1/2 of his or his full amount if he dies. Will I be eligible for medical coverage.
S.S.
Hi Gail. Thank you for reading our blog and for your question. If you receive retirement benefits on your own record, you can only apply for benefits as a surviving spouse if the retirement benefit that you receive is less than the benefits you would receive as a survivor. Generally, survivors benefits are paid at a higher percentage than regular spouse or divorced spouse benefits. For more information on survivors benefits visit our survivors page. We hope this information helps.