Understanding Spouse’s Benefits
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: May 25, 2021
Marriage is a cultural institution that exists all over the world. Having a partner means sharing many things including a home and other property. Understanding how your future retirement might affect your spouse is important. When you’re planning for your fun and vibrant golden years, here are a few things to remember:
Your full spouse’s benefit could be up to 50 percent of your spouse’s full retirement age amount if you are full retirement age when you take it. If you qualify for your own retirement benefit and a spouse’s benefit, we always pay your own benefit first. You cannot receive spouse’s benefits unless your spouse is receiving his or her retirement benefits (except for divorced spouses). If you took your reduced retirement first while waiting for your spouse to reach retirement age, when you add spouse’s benefits later, your own retirement portion remains reduced which causes the total retirement and spouses benefit together to total less than 50 percent of the worker’s amount. You can find out more on our website.
On the other hand, if your spouse’s retirement benefit is higher than your retirement benefit, and he or she chooses to take reduced benefits and dies first, your survivor benefit will be reduced, but may be higher than what your spouse received.
If the deceased worker started receiving reduced retirement benefits before their full retirement age, a special rule called the retirement insurance benefit limit may apply to the surviving spouse. The retirement insurance benefit limit is the maximum survivor benefit you may receive. Generally, the limit is the higher of:
- The reduced monthly retirement benefit to which the deceased spouse would have been entitled if they had lived, or
- 82.5 percent of the unreduced deceased spouse’s monthly benefit if they had started receiving benefits at their full retirement age (rather than choosing to receive a reduced retirement benefit early).
Knowing how your finances affect your spouse’s can help both of you avoid future impacts on your incomes. When it comes to information, we have over 80 years of experience. Access a wealth of useful information by visiting our benefits planners.
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Tags: retirement, Social Security benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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OLA B.
I retired at full retirement age. My spouse is 9 years younger than I am. He retired early. His benefit is substantially less than mine. He receives some small amount for being my spouse and a small benefit based on his own earnings.
If I die before he does, will his benefit be increased? Will he receive the same amount I do now? Today, our combined income allows us to live a lower middle class life, but without my larger social security benefit, it would be difficult. Thanks.
V.V.
Hi Ola, thank you for your question. Your husband’s survivor amount would be based on your earnings. The more you paid into Social Security, the higher his benefit will be. If you are already receiving benefits when you die, survivors benefits are based on that amount. The percentage of that amount that your husband would receive depends on how old he is when he files as a widower. We are only going to pay the highest benefit amount from either record, meaning you don’t get both retirement and widow(er)s benefits but the higher of the two.
Widowers benefit are payable as early as age 60 (for a reduced benefit) or a full widowers benefit at full retirement age or older.
Use our Survivors Planner to look at how your family members are protected if you die.
Ron S.
This explanation is very confusing!
My wife will take early, earned Social Security at age 62. (Born 1957)
I will continue working for a couple more years, until full Social Security retirement at 66 years 2 months. (Born 1955)
After I retire at 66.2 years how much of my retirement would my wife be entitled to in case of my death?
Thank you!
OP
Whatever you are getting when you die. But not both. Hers goes away.
Owen D.
it depend on her age at the time she decide to apply for survivor benefits
V.V.
Hi Ron, thank you for your question. Your wife’s survivor amount is based on your earnings. The more you paid into Social Security, the higher her benefit will be. If you are already receiving benefits when you die, survivors benefits are based on that amount. The percentage of that amount that your wife would receive depends on how old she is when she files as a widow.
Widows benefit are payable as early as age 60 (for a reduced benefit) or a full widows benefit at full retirement age or older.
Use our Survivors Planner to look at how your family members are protected if you die.
CRAIG T.
I found this post to be extremely confusing. The use of the word spouse, is of course correct, but using it for both parties in a discussion about one versus the other is hard to follow. Maybe say the first and second or use an example like John and Mary.
Dawn J.
Yes I have a question I was recently divorced and I want to know why I’m not receiving my ex social security.
O P.
Had to be married 10 yrs, and meet age requirements. If you file for his, you also file for yours, and you only get the higher one.
V.V.
Hello Dawn, thank you for your question. We will always pay your own retirement benefit first. If your benefits as a divorced spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher divorced spouse benefit. However, your divorced spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your ex-spouse’s full retirement amount (not his reduced benefit amount). So, you can only receive additional divorced spouse’s benefits if your own full retirement benefit (not your reduced benefit) is less than half of your ex-spouse’s full retirement benefit.
To inquire about potential benefits, call our toll free telephone number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. or contact your local office directly.
Deborah P.
Hi I’ve been collecting SSDI and SSI I’m 200%below FPL my last husband I was married 17yrs. He’s been ilegaly collecting SSI since he drives a taxi 1,200 mth my BD 12,23,57 his 3,4,56 I’m sure he’s collecting retirement and I know from reading my SSDI goes to retirement but stays the same? I just got an extra 12$ making 765$ a mth since my health isn’t great can I collect his retirement and can they tell me if it would be more before hand? I’m missing a bunch of jobs on my record but no one wants to fix it! Which makes it look like I didn’t work those yrs.most places are gone since I had a workers permit and started working in 72,73 Thanks for replying
theresa b.
my ex spouse of nearly 20 yrs won’t be 62 until jan 2020. i am receiving mine currently. he made more than i did and so do i wait until my full retirement age (sept 2020) before i can receive his or can i go ahead and retire in march 2020 and receive his? daughter is getting married in may 2020 so i could really use some answers. I am currently 64 and ex is about to turn 61 next wk. also, do i need to file for his benefits since im receiving mine now? thank you
V.V.
Hi Theresa, thank you for the question. You must wait for your ex-spouse to qualify for retirement benefits, but he doesn’t have to apply, if you have been divorced for at least two years.
Also, keep in mind that we will always pay your own retirement benefit first. If your benefits as a divorced spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher divorced spouse benefit. The divorced spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your ex-spouse’s full retirement amount (not their reduced benefit amount). So, you can only receive additional divorced spouse’s benefits if your own full retirement benefit (not your reduced benefit) is less than half of your ex-spouse’s full retirement benefit.
Judy S.
Specifically, how does it work if a wife was on disability at about age 58 and then when spouse retired with full benefits, there was an increase for wife. However, if a divorce happens, does divorced wife still receive 50% of ex-spouses social security amount?
V.V.
Hi Judy: If divorced and remains unmarried, the wife may continue to receive benefits as a divorced spouse if their marriage lasted 10 years or longer. See our Retirement Planner: If You’re Divorced for other eligibility requirements and more detailed information.
Vivian M.
I am on SSI as have MS. I will be 62 in September and it is my understanding that I will be “kicked off” of SSI and onto my own SS and that of my second former spouse (higher earner) as we were married over 10 years and have been divorced for 10 years and I will not be married at the time I reach 62. My question is: 1) will I be notified in advance to turning to 62 as to what my SS benefits will be? and 2) how can I get an idea of what my SS income will be and when will it begin?
Debra
I am a graduate of a world-renowned university, and after reading this three times, I still don’t really understand it. Maybe try a flow chart??
Mike
I agree. Doesn’t live up to its title. Maybe this is the government shut-down version. It should start with the normal and then go into exemptions. It starts out confusing. Not written in a way that an average person, who isn’t an expert at Social Security benefits, can understand. Perhaps some examples would help.
Tom
This topic involved too many contingencies and a change in the law effective 2016. It should have been broken into subtopics. However, better information is available at the ssa.gov Benefits Planner pages. This was too ambitious an attempt in a limited format.
Peter F.
My spouse took early retirement at her age 62…..I took retirement at 65, not full retirement at 66. My question is ….. If I die first is my wife entitled to any more than she is currently receiving?
O P.
Your spouse will then receive your amount, that’s all.
O.D
she will start drawing what you was drawing when you died
V.V.
Hi Peter, thank you for your question. If you are already receiving reduced benefits when you die, survivors benefits are based on that amount.
Widows benefits are payable as early as age 60 (for a reduced benefit) or a full widows benefit at full retirement age or older.
Use our Survivors Planner to look at how your family members are protected if you die.
Doug
I am divorced and getting the spouse benefit. I will be 70 this year and will want to pull my own benefits at that time. Do I get both my benefits and spousal benefits or only one of them?
JJ
Only one.
OP
The HIGHER one.
V.V.
Hi Doug, thank you for your question. You may be able to get spouse’s benefits but, under existing law, if you are eligible for benefits both as a retired worker and as a spouse, you must apply for both benefits and you’ll receive the higher of the two benefits. This requirement is called “deemed filing” because when you apply for one benefit you are “deemed” to have also applied for the other.
However, if you turn 62 before January 2, 2016, deemed filing rules will not apply if you wait to file at your full retirement age or later. This means that you may file for either your spouse’s benefit or your retirement benefit without being required or “deemed” to file for the other.
It sounds like this may be your situation. If so, you can switch over to your own retirement at any point in time, or at age 70. This means you will no longer receive the spouse’s benefit. See our Deemed Filing For Retirement And Spouse’s Benefits FAQs web page for details.
kerry
Are you kidding. You need a lawyer to understand this stuff. I read it 3 times and I am still confused.
Thanks a lot!
Debbie W.
All I’m seeing here are questions. Where are the ANSWERS??? Help
Anna
Ha Ha, I’m glad it’s not just me. Seriously though! Don’t bother calling either, you’ll never get through.
Nory
Same
Cher
I am 65. I was married for 16 years to first husband. We divorced and he died at age 50. I remarried at age 47. I took my SS early at age 62. We are now divorcing, and I want to know if I can take my 1st husband’s SS instead of mine if it is more than mine?
A.C.
Thanks for your question, Cher. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, the marriage had to last for at least 10 years. Generally, we cannot pay benefits if the divorced spouse remarries someone other than the former spouse, unless the latter marriage ends (whether by death, divorce, or annulment). For more information on how someone can qualify for divorced spouse benefits, visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are Divorced. For specific information about your case, call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or contact your local Social Security office. Hope this helps!
Jeri E.
My 25 year marriage ended in divorce, he is still living and took his benefit early. My next marriage ended in his death by cancer just 353 days into the marriage. Can I draw on either of them now (at 66) and draw on my own at age 70?
V.V.
Hi Jeri, thank you for your questions. Generally, a surviving spouse or widow meets the marriage requirement if the marriage took place no later than 9 months immediately preceding the day on which the worker died. If you are the widow of a person who worked long enough under Social Security, you can receive full widow’s benefits at your full retirement age. If you also qualify for retirement benefits on your own record, you can switch over to your own retirement benefit later, up to age 70. To learn more , visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Lisa
Not if you remarried
Lisa G.
Not if you remarried, you are no longer eligible to your deceased EXs benefits
Alice D.
Go to the SSA.gov website – these rules are explained in a much clearer format.
Lois B.
this IS the SSA website
Lois B.
LOL I graduated college with honors and can’t understand it either!