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.
Alice
If my spouse (who is not an U.S. citizen) gives up his green card and decides to move overseas permanently, am I still eligible to receive his SS benefit money since I am his （ex)spouse and an U.S. citizen? Please discuss two scenarios about divorced and in marriage, thank you!
Ruth A.
I’m receiving disability and will reach retirement age in April 2025. I also receive my deceased ss. But it’s half of what he would be getting if alive. What will happen when I reach full retirement age.?
T.Y.
Thanks for your question and for reading our blog, Ruth. When you reach full retirement age, we will automatically convert your disability benefits to retirement benefits, but the amount will remain the same. Our Retirement Age Calculator will help find your full retirement age. 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.
Kag V.
I will start to receive my SS benfits starting this month. My husband is 63 and still working full time, but has not applied for SS benefits yet. Can he avail a portion of my benefit even though he is still working full time?
Robin M.
So my husband and i have never gotton a divorce or a legal seperation. We have been apart for 10 years. Am i eligable for his retirement or ss?
T.Y.
Thanks for your question and for reading our blog, Robin. Generally, you must be married for one year before you can get spouse’s benefits. However, if you are the parent of your spouse’s child, the 1-year rule does not apply. The same is true if you were entitled (or potentially entitled) to certain benefits under Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Act in the month before the month you got married. For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Jonia
I am in the same situation as Jason. I am retired federal employee receiving my pension plus I put in all my quarters and earn a very modest social security amount. My husband recently passed and I would like to know if I am eligible and if not why since his employment was not government.
Michael H.
How can my wife file for spousal benefits? I am 82 with social security benefits $2066/mo. My wife is 72 with minimal social security benefits $410/mo. Can my wife forgo her monthly benefit and receive a portion of my benefit?
Thank You
S.S.
Hi, Michael. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. If her benefits as a spouse are higher than her own retirement benefit, she may be able to get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse’s amount. To speak with a representative about her eligibility for spouse’s 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.
Ruth W.
I was wondering if I get a an increase on my social security I am on a widow pension
RC
Non resident relative meets requirements for spousal benefits, but irs phone person says relative needs also a green card. Is that true? I don’t see green card anywhere on irs as a requirement for spousal benefits.
Chris W.
I’d also like an answer to this as my wife only has a EAD (work permit) and not a green card.
E.H.
I get from Disability $ 1, 336.00 a month then get $ 24.00 a month from my husband a month to but why so little ?
S.S.
Hi, E.H. 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 disability and spouse’s 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.
Karl O.
This is the same stuff I`ve heard on the SSA line. I`ve done a lot of personal research. Only on the SSA line have I encountered the long-term residency/green card requirement.
Ethel
My husband retired from federal government we’re he paid no social security at age 55 now I’m 62 can I get his pension and my own Social Security if I retire next year
Ida B.
Both my self and spouse are age 62, I want to file for ss benefits and my spouse wants to retire at age 65. Can I receive benefits on my own record than switch to spousal benefits when he files. My benefit amount is less than what he would receive. Or will mine be reduced because of filing before fra.
Patricia
I would like to know the answer to this as well. I am in this same situation.
Jason
My mom is a retired federal employee. However, she worked in the private sector after retirement and paid in all her quarters. My dad recently passed and was receiving his SSA disability. Is my mom able to receive any of his SSA? Thanks.
T.Y.
Thanks for your question and for reading our blog, Jason. If your mother is eligible on her own record, we will pay that amount first. If she is also eligible for a higher amount as a spouse, she’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.