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.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: retirement, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Mary B.
My husband has recently passed from CoVid.
We are/were both on SS.
How do I apply for his survivor benefits?
S.D.
We are very sorry for your loss, Mary. To make an appointment to apply for survivors benefits, call us at 1-800-772-1213 or your local Social Security office. You’ll find the phone number using the Office Locator. Our call volume and wait times are longer than normal, so please be patient. For additional information, visit our Survivors Benefits web page. We hope this information helps.
Ann P.
I’ve been receiving spouse benefits for 2 years. I will be turning 70, and will need to switch to receiving my own benefits. How do I make this change? When do I do it?
Jorge
My mom just lost is hasband they where married for 61 years
She lives in mexico, can she recive the social security of my dad?
She got a stroke 9 years ago so his health is no that good to travel to the usa to do any paperwork
Is anything we can do
V.V.
We are very sorry for your loss, Jorge. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefit Unit in the area for any assistance related to Social Security programs and benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad.
Russ R.
I am receiving SS payments. i retired just before i turned 70 and have a high level of credits. my wife just turned 65 in Oct and started on Medicare. i have been trying to determine when i should have her start taking retirement benefits. Her benefit is much lower than mine if she retires at 67 which is her full benefit age for full benefits. how do i determine if it is better for her to just start taking a % of my benefit? is there a household max allowed for a husband and wife to receive while they are both alive?
V.V.
Hi Russ, thank you for your question. We will always pay your wife’s own retirement benefit first. If benefits as a spouse are higher than her own retirement benefits, she will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, the spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your full retirement amount (not your age 70 amount). So, she can only receive additional spouse’s benefits if her own full retirement benefit (not a reduced benefit) is less than half of your full retirement benefit.
There is no marriage penalty or limit to benefits paid a married couple. If you are married and you and your spouse have worked and earned enough credits individually, you will each get your own Social Security benefit. So, for example, if you are due a Social Security benefit of $1,200 per month and your spouse is due a Social Security benefit of $1,400 per month, the two of you will get $2,600 per month in retirement benefits.
Check out our Benefits For Your Spouse web page for additional details.
Allan W.
My mother recently died and my father survives her. I called SS about applying for the special lump sum $255 benefit. They told me my father was not eligible because my mother died in the hospital instead of with him at their home. However, I have been told there are exceptions for hospital and nursing home stays but not sure where to find this information. Seems strange they lived together for 68 years and she enters the hospital and dies 5 days later but not eligible for this benefit.
V.V.
We are very sorry for your loss, Allan. According to current policy, a temporary absence from living together due to hospitalization does not make someone ineligible for the lump sum death payment. Please have your father call his local Social Security office to make an appointment. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Leslie A.
I want to apply for my deceased husbands benefits now. I am 61 and want to still work part time. What is the process for this?
S.D.
Hi, Leslie. Thank you for reading our blog and for your question. To be eligible for survivors benefit, your deceased husband must have worked long enough under Social Security. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on who can receive Social Security survivors benefits and how to apply. You can get Social Security survivors or retirement benefits and work at the same time. However, there is a limit to how much you can earn and still receive full benefits. The amount you’re allowed to earn while receiving benefits depends on your age. If you’re younger than full retirement age, the 2021 earnings limit is $18,960. We will deduct $1 from benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For more information, check out our Receiving Benefits While Working web page.
Susan S.
My husband receives more than twice the amount than I do.
We would like to have me receive half of his and put mine in reserve.
How does this work
V.V.
Hi Susan, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. We will always pay your own retirement benefit first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, you can only receive additional spouse’s benefits if your own full retirement benefit (not your reduced benefit) is less than half of your husband’s full retirement benefit. It is not half of your husband’s reduced benefit or increased benefit due to delayed retirement credits but half of his full retirement benefit.
To find out if you are eligible for a higher benefit amount, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Eunice S.
How do i make an apptt. During this time.
V.V.
Hi Eunice, thanks for using our blog. We currently do not have an online appointment scheduler. However you do not need an appointment to conduct most business with Social Security. Today, you can apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits online, check the status of an application or appeal, request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas), print a benefit verification letter, and more – from anywhere and from any of your devices!
If you are unable or do not want to apply for benefits online, you can schedule an appointment by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Mark
My wife wants to draw her social security since she is 62 and 6 months. will that affect my social security as i will not be receiving my benefits for another three years. i am working until 66 and 6 months
Mary w.
I’m on ssi and receiving my social security totals 804 a month but my husband is still working at64 years old will I get an increase when he retire
V.V.
Hi Mary, thanks for using our blog. You may be eligible for spouse’s benefits if you are at least 62 years of age and your spouse is receiving retirement or disability benefits. Check out our Benefits For Your Spouse web page for additional details.
karen j.
I’m not clear on the spouse and ex-spouse being able to collect on their social security. I am 59 on disability, he is 64 and still plans to work one more year. We have been divorced 10 yrs and never remarried. so when can I start collecting on his retirement.