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
Comments are closed.
Michele M.
I am 68, divorced since 1999 after an 18 year marriage, never remarried, still working to increase my SS benefit because I was a stay-at-home mom for 12 years. My ex-husband was an executive with salary high enough that by October, he had reached his SS contribution for the year. I spoke with an SS agent today and learned I am NOT entitled to spousal benefits! I am in shock! All I can theorize us that my ex-husband, no longer employed by a major corporation since 2002 has not kept up with self-employed contributions. Is there a way I can learn his SS benefit to confirm it is lower than mine?
Ann C.
Hi, Michele. Thanks for visiting our blog. We encourage you to work with your local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this helps.
Tony
Aren’t you forgetting that the wage earner must be receiving Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance, or dead before they can receive spousal benefits.
I don’t think the spouse can receive it at any age who cares for a child under 16. If the wage earner is 30 years old and the spouse or ex-spouse is 30 years old with a baby, then does that mean she could collect spousal benefits.
Tony
The dead wage earner would be survivor benefits. It states in 42 USC 402 that the wage earner must be entitled to Social Security Retirement or Social Security Disability Insurance before the spouse can receive any benefits.
The desperate people looking for money who don’t know the main eligibility requirement will be calling and causing more work for for customer service.
JP
I started drawing social security benefits at age 62. My husband paid into social security, but never earned enough credits to qualify for social security. He is turning age 65. Can he apply for spousal benefits? We have been married 10+ years.
Ann C.
Hi, JP. Thanks for visiting our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. Your husband can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. He can also contact his local Social Security office. For more information about benefits for your spouse, please visit our Benefits Planner. We hope this helps.
Bianca
If I have not earned enough credits, can I borrow some from my spouse’s work history to get to the 40 credits and qualify for benefits on my behalf?
Ann C.
Hi, Bianca. Thanks for visiting our blog. You cannot borrow credits from another person’s record. For more information about how to earn credits, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions. You may also find our Benefits Planner helpful. We hope this helps.
S. J.
If my spouse draws spousal SS now before I reach full retirement age, will it reduce my SS benefits when I retire? Thank you.
Sally
It will not reduce yours, but he gets a lesser spouse benefit because it started before you were at the full retirement age. From what I understand his benefit is permanently reduced because he claimed it early.
Johnny R.
I want to apply for social security benefits
Johnny R.
About to apply for social security benefits
Elie A.
No comment
Ann C.
Hi, Johnny. Thanks for the question. If you are referring to an application for retirement benefits, our system is set up to take applications three months in advance. You can apply for Social Security retirement benefits when you are at least 61 years and 9 months of age. When you are ready you can complete the online application for Social Security retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. We hope this helps.
Mildred A.
Yes, I am totally disabled, told I’m going to die from cancer or heart disease! I’m wondering if I can draw any of my ex-husband of 15 years, social security benefits? I just turned 60 yrs old, but totally disabled? I’d appreciate any insight on this matter!
THANK YOU
Ann C.
Hi, Mildred. We are sorry to hear about your condition.To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years, be at least age 62, and you cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. For more information on how to qualify for divorced spouse benefits, please visit our Benefits Planner. Thanks!
Patricia W.
Am I eligible for my husband’s social security Reg it’s benefits since I am a retired civil service employee.
Ann C.
Hi, Patricia. Thanks for your question. Generally, a pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies) may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your Social Security benefits can be reduced based on one of two provisions: the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. Your own Social Security benefit can be reduced based on the Windfall Elimination Provision. If you qualify for benefits on your spouse’s record, your benefits may be affected by Government Pension Offset. We hope this information is helpful.
Leon I.
At 63 my wife doesn’t have enough social security credit to receive any social security income. If she applies for receiving a percentage of my social security benefit is it subtracted from what I receive or is her percentage in addition to my social security full amount?
Ann C.
Hi, Leon. Thanks for your question. If you’re getting Social Security retirement benefits, some members of your family may also qualify to receive benefits on your record. If they qualify, your ex-spouse, spouse, or child may receive a monthly payment of up to one-half of your retirement benefit amount. These Social Security payments to family members will not decrease the amount of your retirement benefit. For more information, please visit our Retirement Planner. We hope this helps.
shirley a.
Good afternoon,i need to ask a question i am adivorced 67 years old ,iam also getting ssa benefits Ex husband is still employed he will be 64 in a month we have a disable daughter almost 33yearsold have been all her life would like to know if we will be eligible to apply.thank-you
S. J.
I am waiting another 5 years to full retirement age to start drawing my SS benefits. My spouse works p/t and will be 62 in January.
If she starts drawing spouse SS, will it lower my own benefits when I reach full retirement age? Thanks!
Ann C.
Hi, S. Jay. Thanks for your question. If you’re getting Social Security retirement benefits, some members of your family may also qualify to receive benefits on your record. If they qualify, your ex-spouse, spouse, or child may receive a monthly payment of up to one-half of your retirement benefit amount. These Social Security payments to family members will not decrease the amount of your retirement benefit. For more information, please visit our Retirement Planner. We hope this helps.
Ann C.
Hi, Shirley. Thanks for visiting our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Yvonne S.
Since COVID office hours for social security are NON – Existent! What office are your referring to? Please advise – in Philadelphia pa.
Ann C.
Hi, Yvonne. Thanks for visiting our blog. To find your local office location and business hours, please visit our local Social Security office locator. We hope this helps.