Do You Qualify for Social Security Spouse’s Benefits?
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 24, 2023
Social Security benefits are a crucial part of millions of Americans’ retirement income.
If you don’t have enough Social Security credits to qualify for benefits on your own record, you may be able to receive benefits on your spouse’s record.
To qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be one of the following:
- 62 years of age or older.
- Any age and have in your care a child younger than age 16, or who has a disability and is entitled to receive benefits on your spouse’s record.
Your full spouse’s benefit could be up to one-half the amount your spouse is entitled to receive at their full retirement age. If you choose to receive your spouse’s benefits before you reach full retirement age, you will get a permanently reduced benefit.
If you wait until you reach full retirement age to receive benefits, you’ll receive your full spouse’s benefit amount, which is up to one-half the amount your spouse can receive. You’ll 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 receive benefits on your spouse’s record.
If you’re eligible to receive retirement benefits on your own record, we will pay that amount first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits that equal the higher spouse benefit.
For example, Sandy qualifies for a retirement benefit of $1,000 and a spouse’s benefit of $1,250. At 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.
Want to apply for either your or your spouse’s benefits? Are you at least 61 years and nine months old? If you answered yes to both, visit our website to get started today.
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. You can find out more by visiting our Benefits For Your Family page for more information.
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Tags: Children, General Information, retirement benefits, Social Security benefits, survivors 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
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Patricia M.
I started drawing early ssa retirement last March 2023 when I turned 63. My husband turned 62 this January 2024. He will begin receiving spouse’s benefits from my record (he doesn’t have enough credits on his own). I want to know if I work part time will it effect HIS spousal benefits? I would not be making more than the $22320 annual income, so I don’t think it would effect either of our benefits, is that right?
Sue
Hi, Patricia. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. As long as you and your husband keep your earnings under the annual limit of $22,320, your benefits will not be reduced due to work. Once you reach full retirement age, this is no earnings limit. For more information, visit our Receiving Benefits While Working page. We hope this helps.
Bob
How long does it take for spouse’s benefits to show up on the online site? My wife and I applied last September My benefit was computed and hers was based on her work history. My benefit is much higher She should receive more with her spouse’s benefits but it is not reflected. 5 months seems a bit excessive. She mailed a letter in January but no response.
Sue
Hi, Bob. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. Application processing times vary. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. To speak with a representative about her spouse’s benefits, your wife can 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 you and your wife both have a personal my Social Security account, she 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. We hope this helps.
Sharon S.
I am a bi-lateral amputee. I am on disability (social security) and so is my husband. We are both in our 70’s. If he were to die, would I be eligible for his ss benefits?
Sue
Hi, Sharon. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. When you and your husband reached your full retirement age, we automatically converted your disability benefits to retirement benefits. Your benefit amounts likely remained the same. If your husband passes away before you and your benefit amount is less than his, you may be eligible for survivors benefits. At that time, you should call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. For more information, check out our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Joyce G.
Hello, My spouse begin receiving his SS benefits at 62 based on his work history. I am FRA and will receive 3500 monthly, is he eligible for spousal benefits if he’s receiving only $1300?
Sue
Hi, Joyce. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. If your husband’s benefits as a spouse are greater than his own retirement benefit, he may be able to get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse’s amount. However, his combined benefit will not equal half your benefit amount because he started receiving his reduced benefits before his full retirement age. If you and your husband both have a personal my Social Security account, you can view an estimate of the benefits he could receive based on your work history. To learn more about spouse’s benefits, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. If your husband has questions about his eligibility for spouse’s benefits, he can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Matt F.
So right now I am 61, my wife is 63. We planned on both waiting until she reaches 70 to start collecting her own S.S. I have to wait about 18 months thereafter until I reach 70 to start my S.S. claim. My question is can she collect S.S. before me and then myself collect 18 months later and still each receive the maximum payout at 70 each that when we both finally reach 70 together can we still each keep collect our own separate payouts checks, or is this reduced once we both start receiving at the same time?
I read somewhere that whomever is receiving the most S.S., that higher of the two, that amount is cut in half by 50% for the other spouse to receive as a married couple, is that correct? If this is true I find this totally unfair as both of us worked a full lifetime with all the credits that were entitled to by going to 70, paying into S.S. so why would one be penalized with their S.S. being reduced to 50% of the higher other to get a combined payout amount? We all both earned S.S. from our work history paying into this program and that is a sham that you get a reduction of 50% for the other spouse because your married?
If this is true then being divorced would be a better way to get the maximum if this is the case to provide a higher payout of each than being married. So what I described, is this is how S.S. works being married? How long do you need to be divorced to to be considered separated.
Sue
Hi, Matt. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. There is no marriage penalty or limit to benefits paid to a married couple. If you and your wife have worked and earned enough credits individually, you will each get your own Social Security benefit. For example, if you’re due a Social Security benefit of $1,200 per month and your wife is due a benefit of $1,400 per month, the two of you will get a combined amount of $2,600 per month. Your wife can apply for spouse’s benefits once you apply for your retirement benefits. We will always pay your wife’s own retirement benefit first. If her benefits as a spouse are higher than her own retirement benefits, she’ll get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, she can only receive additional spouse’s benefits if her own benefit is less than half your full retirement benefit amount (not your age 70 amount). For more information about spouse’s benefits, check out our Benefits Planner. We hope this helps.
Norma
I am 68 and started drawing SS at age 62. My husband turned 67 in October but he is not drawing SS yet. His benefits are much higher than mine. Do I qualify for SS Spousal benefits or do I have to wait until he starts do draw?
Sue
Hi, Norma. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. Once your husband applies for his Social Security, you may be eligible for spouse’s benefits. If your benefits as a spouse are greater than your own retirement benefits, you may get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse’s amount. However, your spouse’s benefit will be less than half your husband’s full retirement age benefit because you started receiving your own benefits at 62, before your full retirement age. If you and your husband both have a personal my Social Security account, you can view an estimate of the benefits you could receive based on his earnings history. To learn more about spouse’s benefits, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. When your husband is ready to apply for his retirement benefits, the most convenient way is to use our online application. We hope this helps.
Angie C.
My husband will be collecting SS. I just turned 61, will I be able to collect SS under him? Do I have to wait until I am 62?
Sue
Hi, Angie. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. The earliest age you can begin your spouse’s benefits is 62 – unless you’re taking care of your husband’s child who is younger than 16 or has a disability that began before age 22. To learn more about spouse’s benefits, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. When you’re ready to apply for benefits, we recommend you use our convenient online application. We hope this helps.
Jennifer C.
How long must you be married before you can claim spouse benefits
Sue
Hi, Jennifer. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. Generally, you must be married for one year before you can get spouse’s benefits. However, if you’re taking care of your spouse’s child, the 1-year rule may not apply. There are other exceptions as well. If you have questions about your eligibility for spouse’s benefits, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. For more information about spouse’s benefits, check out our Benefits Planner. We hope this this helps.
BOBBY
My Wife is 65 and she does not have the required credits.
If I retire and start collecting, will she be able to collect half of my benefits?
Will MY benefits be reduced if she collects half of my benefits?
Sue
Hi, Bobby. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. Your wife can apply for spouse’s benefits once you apply for your Social Security benefits. However, her benefit amount will not be half your benefit amount if she takes her spouse’s benefits before her full retirement age. 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.
Kay M.
I will be 65 in Sep 2024. I currently collect a pension as a teacher for 35 yrs. I also have 40 qtrs. in SS for part-time jobs all my life. I figured out my WEP and I think that I will be able to collect 75% of my total SS at 65 because of WEP. This total amt. is $480 a month. I want to collect my SS to pay off some hospital bills. My husband collects SS at about $3800 a month. May I collect a spousal benefit on him? Thank you!
Sue
Hi, Kay. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. Because you receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security, two laws may affect your Social Security benefits. Your own retirement benefit may be reduced based on the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Your spouse’s benefit on your husband’s record may be reduced by the Government Pension Offset (GPO). For more information, check out our Benefits Planner. You can contact your local Social Security office to discuss how WEP and GPO will affect your benefits, Or you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.