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
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Dawn Bystry, Acting Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
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Dan K.
I will be turning 62 and have a 13 year old minor. I am considering applying early so my wife caring for a minor and my child can collect the 50% FRA. My wife is only 56 and has no earnings on her own record. If we apply in this situation, I understand there is an Earnings Limit of $21.2K that I am subject to so as not to lose $1 for every $2 I earn. Would my spouse be subject to the same limit if she is drawing a SS payment as a spouse caring for a minor child?
Ann C.
Hi, Dan. Thanks for your question. If your wife is younger than full retirement age and earns more than the yearly earnings limit, we may reduce her benefit amount. If she is under full retirement age for the entire year, we deduct $1 from her benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2023, that limit is $21,240. For more information, please visit here. We hope this helps.
Dan K.
Thank you for the response. In this situation, my wife is not even early retirement age (much less than 62) and would be collecting SS in the capacity of caring for a minor under 16. Once our minor turns 16 she loses the benefit and still is under 62 (thus no longer considered retired by SSA definition). I can’t find ANY documentation which addresses this specific situation where she is NOT retirement age and only collects SS benefit as a parent of a minor child for a very short time while not officially retired. Are you saying she is considered retired for the timeframe she receives the benefit and thus earnings limits apply (and she is receiving from my earnings)? This scenario is very confusing because it is not addressed nor are examples provided to illustrate how it is governed. Thank you.
Ann C.
Hi, Dan. We are sorry for any confusion. If she is receiving a Social Security benefit as a mother, she is subject to the same earnings limits. Please see our publication, How Work Affects Your Benefits, for more information. For addtiional 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.
Cliffonia
Info-I am FRA 66.6-retired Texas tescher but have paid all quarters in Oklahoma and have verification letter I can draw SS now already drawing Medicare since March 2022
Question -in January 2024 if I wait get a few dollars more and thst is what I am going to do.
Next I have 20 years of Substantial earnings on the WEP charting turned 62 in 2019.
Now I am seeing a deduction of 463. From my amount let’s say of 1600-therefore me getting 1137 . Okay. But hubby is 72 been drawing since 70 around 3800 a month
Question about spousal benefit 50% of 1900 that mine would be brought up to. . Would SS look at my amount of 1600 before my WEP deduction if so the would raise and give me an additional 300 correct. So after my WEP deduction of 1137 if I added 300 then I would be getting 1437 as my SS amount each month? Or does that 2/3 deduction come into play with my hubby SS smount for me confused
Ann C.
Hi, Cliffonia. Thanks for visiting our blog. 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. For 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.
Pam S.
My husband is 67, retired and receiving his SS. I’m 63 and working full time. Can I receive a portion of his SS while I’m still working? Thank you.
Ann C.
Hi, Pam. Thanks for your question. If you qualify for your own benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Visit our Benefits Planner for more information. Also, keep in mind If you are younger than full retirement age and earn more than the yearly earnings limit, we may reduce your benefit amount. If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, we deduct $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2023, that limit is $21,240. We hope this helps.
Julie
Hi,
I have 40 credits on my record, (ELIGIBLE) I am 62, My husband collects SS disability, the higher amount!
Anyway, I am asking THIS Blog how do I ask a Benefits Counselor to Apply this Formula? Buy Taking my earnings first, then apply my husbands at the higher amount, to get the maximum Benefit?
My PMTs are being delayed, Because I feel I am not Getting the Maximum Benefit Amount!! Thank you for this article! Julie
Ann C.
Hi, Julie. Thanks for visiting our blog.If you qualify for your own benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. For more information about benefits as a spouse and how it is figured, please visit our Benefits Planner. For 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.
Julie M.
Hi Again Ann, I have a SS login in account & I Google many searches on this formula! It’s Very Scarce! I also Called SS at the phone number you provided & A Benefits Counselor had no idea what I was trying to explain to her!! That took up 1.5 hrs
SO Can you Please direct me to a calculator, SO I can input our information to get the Correct Benefit Amount! I need this homework BEFORE I visit My SS administration! Thank you in Advance, for this information and as always thank you for Yr time in keeping up with this Blog!!
Thx again Julie: )
Julie
Hi Ann, In regards to my Blog post above regarding the Formula that you stated is Always Applied!!
**When applying for benefits at 62, where a spouse is eligible for their Benefit first AND Eligible for their Spouse’s AT THE HIGHER Amount!
You stated several times in this Blog,
“We Always Apply Yours First & Then higher Spouse’s Benefit, to Get the Maximum Amount!!
PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS CALCULATION/Formula ??
When I have Social Security on the line, DO I Read yr Blog to them? This Confuses me, Because in the Past I have Had Benefits Counselors tell me, they Do Not Understand?!
Please Give me Direction on how to Communicate with the Social Security Benefits Counselors, regarding this Formula?
**My Benefits are being Delayed, When I know I am Eligible for this formula!! I just Need Confirmation before I call to apply!! Please Help! All is Appreciated! : )
The wait times can get up to 2 hrs! Thank you Again for yr Blog & Time!!
Julie: )
Miriam
I wished the SS Laws were revised. I don’t understand how you can be married for 20-30 years and a young Woman comes alone and for some odd reason” Said”she’s having a child bye him! guess what she applied for his SS and gets a check!!!! 10 years Law to be married goes down the toilet!!!!
Miriam
I am 70 years old and received SSI at 62 due to illness. I am married since 1994. My husband had a Heart Attack started getting his SS at 66. His Check is larger Although I was a RN taking care of my Household. At any point am I going to see a increase in my check. He wants to married someone else due to his religion. Where do I stand after taking care of him for years?
Ann C.
Hi, Miriam. Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. 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.
Sharon B.
I thought that Social Security was taking the mandatory , automatic payment for Medicare Part B . It was not.
It seems that I need to apply for special exemption, when I apply in January.
Sandy
Thanks for this information! If I start collecting my own social security at age 62 and do not wait until my full retirement, and my husband passes away, would I still get the addt’l amount from his social security at some point?
Bill J.
if i receive $3,337 and my wife receives $1,756 if I die first she will receive additional $1,581 from my monthly.
if she dies first do i lose her $1,756 completely and must survive on $3,337 per month?
Glenn G.
My was receiving $992.0 social security per month. I am receiving $1352. Per month.
I took care of her and my self from 2016 and her
first heart surgery.
When she passed way in Feb. 2023 Her soc. Sec.
Stopped. In need to remover from the loss.
of income. How?
Ann C.
Hi, Glenn. 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 is resolved soon.
Sandy
Thanks Bill, I was told if I stared taking my social security early at age 62, that I may not get my husband’s amount, which is way higher than mine, because I did not wait until my full retirement age to start collecting? I am assuming he will pass before me because he is much older.
Ann C.
Hi, Bill. Thanks for visiting our blog. The amount of her widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: your earnings, when you started receiving your benefits, her age at the time of your death, and the amount of her own retirement benefit. We compare her own benefit with her potential survivor benefit. If her survivor benefit would be higher than her own current retirement benefit, she would be eligible for survivor benefits. For more information, she can visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Ann C.
Hi, Sandy. Thanks for your question. The amount of your widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of your husband, when he started receiving his benefits, your age, and the amount of your own retirement benefit. We compare your own benefit with your potential survivor benefit. If your survivor benefit would be higher than your own current retirement benefit, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. For more information, please visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Kanna m.
Thank you for all the efforts and sharing the useful information.
Lynn C.
I am a civil service retiree that worked other jobs while still working my civil service job, to reach the credits I needed to receive social security. Will I be able to collect my social security without being penalized for having a civil service job. Or can I file on my spouses benefits if his is more than mine
Ann C.
Hi, Lynn. Thanks for visiting our blog. 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.