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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Phoebus L.
Exactly how does the reduction rate for spousal benefits work? My spouse started retirement benefits at 62. I will reach FRA in 2 yrs and 2 mos. How can I calculate what my spouse’s spousal benefit would be if I start receiving retirement benefits at FRA?
V.V.
Hi Phoebus, thank you for reading our blog post. We will always pay a person’s own retirement benefit first. If their benefits as a spouse are higher than their own retirement benefits, they will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, keep in mind that a spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of the worker’s full retirement amount (not their reduced benefit amount). So, a person is only going to receive additional spouse’s benefits if their own full retirement benefit (not their reduced benefit) is less than half of their spouse’s full retirement benefit.
For example, if a worker’s full retirement benefit amount is $1,100, the spousal benefit is 50 percent of that, or $550. However, if that spouse is eligible for a full retirement benefit on their own record of $400, then their actual spouse’s benefit would be an additional $150 which equals that 50 percent. If the spouse waited until their full retirement age to file, they would receive one payment of $550, even though $400 was from their own retirement record and $150 was from their spouse’s record. Benefits are reduced if the individual files prior to their full retirement age.
Nancy
This is a question not a comment. My ex-husband was killed in a car accident November 3, 2018. Our daughter just turned 18 she has cerebral palsy. Would I be able to get ex-spouse benefits? We were married for 6 years. Although after we divorced we remained together up until his passing. Also would our daughter be able to get his benefits?
V.V.
We are very sorry for your loss, Nancy. Your daughter may be eligible for survivor benefits if her father earned enough Social Security credits through his work. A child with a disability age 18 or older may get Social Security benefits when a parent gets retirement or disability benefits or passes away. The child’s disability must have begun before age 22.
In addition, you may be eligible for benefits as well. If you are caring for a child under age 16 or disabled and the child gets benefits on the record of your former spouse, you would not have to meet the ten year duration of marriage rule. The child must be your former spouse’s natural or legally adopted child. Check out our Survivors Planner for more details on surviving divorced spouse’s benefits.
To inquire about potential benefits, you will have to contact your local office or call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
connie b.
my husband passed away 12-5-2018 I went to ss on 1-10-2019 to apply for his 255.00 have not received it what s taking so long
A.C.
We are sorry for your loss, Connie. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community continue to work with our offices with specific questions about their case. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Or you can contact your local office. We hope this is resolved soon.
Mary S.
I’m following up on my disability appeal, pls advise status, it’s been almost 10 months since it was submitted.
Thank you
Mary S Amiri/AKA Shenorik Mary Amiri #*** – ** – ***
Your response will be appreciated.
A.C.
Hi, Mary. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community to continue working with our offices with specific questions about their case. You 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. Thanks.
Cheryl B.
If my spouse started receiving SS Retirement Benefits at age 62, does that mean when I (His spouse) turn 62, I, who don’t qualify for my own benefits due to being a stay at home mom, will not be eligible for any spousal benefits even after I turn 62?
V.V.
Hi Cheryl, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. For you to qualify for spouse’s benefits on your husband’s record, you must be 62 years old or older and your husband must also file. If you qualify for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If benefits as a spouse are higher than her your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Visit our Retirement Planner: Spouse’s Benefits for more information.
Linda M.
my spouse has a higher monthly benefit and I would like to receive the 50% of his which would be higher than my total monthly amount. How do I do this? There is always a long wait on the phone line for information at social security.
V.V.
Hi Linda. To inquire about potentially higher benefits on your spouse’s record, you will need to contact your local office or call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Keep in mind that we will always pay your own retirement benefit first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, please know that a spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of the worker’s full retirement amount (not their reduced benefit amount). So, you can only receive additional spouse’s benefits if your own full retirement benefit (not your reduced benefit if you filed early) is less than half of your spouse’s full retirement benefit (not what they’re receiving if they filed early).
A.C.
Hi, Linda. If you are eligible for retirement benefits on your own record, we pay that amount first. If the benefit on your spouse’s record is higher, you will get an additional amount on that record so that the combination of benefits equals that higher amount. If the benefit on your spouse’s record is higher, you will get an additional amount on that record so that the combination of benefits equals that higher amount. Find more information at our “Retirement Planner: Benefits for Your Spouse.” For more specific information, contact us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and ask a representative to assist you. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. You can also contact your local office. You can also click “Get Help” in your personal my Social Security account to “Ask a Question”. Click “Talk to an Expert” for a call back. We hope this helps.
Cher
Does everyone know that the SS office posts your ENTIRE SS # on U.S. Postal mail ? An item from them was delivered in my mailbox last week and ripped open to expose the ENTIRE SS #. I cannot even believe with all of the fraud that SS of all places, would even still do this ! Now I have had to place a fraud alert on everything. This needs to stop !
Susan B.
I will be 67 in March. My spouse will be 67 in February. Some people our age say that together they get one spouse’s social security payment and half of the other spouse’s payment. How does that work? My spouse and I are both still working.
V.V.
Hi Susan, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. For individuals that turn 62 before January 2, 2016, deemed filing rules do 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. See our Deemed Filing For Retirement And Spouse’s Benefits FAQs web page for details.
Andrew K.
still dont understand, they need to make rule easier to understand, i started receiving benefits at age 62 and am 3 yrs older than my wife, she started receiving benefits at 62, my benefit is 500.00 more a month so if i die before her will she receive the higher amount.
V.V.
Hi Andrew, thank you for your question. Your wife’s survivor amount would be 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. We are only going to pay the highest benefit amount from either record, meaning she won’t get both retirement and widows benefits but the higher of the two.
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.
Mildred P.
If a child receives a portion of her father’s SS Pension
until she reaches the age of 18 will the spouse start receiving the SS Pension after?