Retirement

Understanding Spouse’s Benefits

January 24, 2019 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last 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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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Randy G.

    I am collecting full retirement benefits. My wife was a teacher and state employee and retired, collecting benefits from the state, so she did not pay into the Social Security system. Will she still be able to collect my benefits if I die first?

    • Vonda

      Hi Randy, thanks for using our blog. If your wife receives a pension from a government job in which she did not pay Social Security taxes, some or all of her Social Security spouse’s, divorced spouse’s, widow’s, or surviving divorced widow’s benefit may be offset due to receipt of that pension. This offset is referred to as the Government Pension Offset, or GPO. For additional details, check out our Government Pension Offset factsheet.

  2. Lisa

    My husband, who died in 10/2013, received SSDI benefits. I am now 60 and a few months. Can I receive a percentage of what he received under SSDI? It looks like for regular Social Security, it would be 73.9%. Also, would all of the COLAs be applied to what he was getting at the time of his death?

  3. Margaret W.

    If I’m receiving SSD benefits at age 59, and my husband will receive social security 02/21 can I receive his benefits if they are a higher amount than mine? ex. If I get $1400 for my SSD and he gets ex. $1900. Can I receive his $1900 instead of my $1400?

    Thanks

    • Vonda

      Hi Margaret, thanks for using our blog. You must be 62 years of age to qualify for spouse’s benefits. In addition, your own disability benefit must be less than half of your spouse’s full retirement amount. Check out our Benefits For Your Spouse web page for additional details. We hope this is helpful!

  4. Andrea

    Hello:

    I am currently 58 and I am entitled to my own Social Security (when I reach appropriate age)as well as survivor’s benefits for my husband. My husband passed at age 63.

    I am trying to figure out if there is somewhere that I can get the information on-line to learn what benefits I may be entitled to as a survivor were I to begin payments at age 60 and also were I to begin at age 66. I do know my own benefits and I realize that the earliest I could begin payments is 60 and that waiting until I turned 66 would allow me the maximum survivor benefit but I do not know the dollar amounts.

    Thanks!

    • Vonda

      Thank you for the question, Andrea. If you are the widow of a person who worked long enough under Social Security, you can start receiving reduced survivor’s benefits as early as age 60 (50 if disabled). If you are also eligible for retirement benefits on your own record, you may have an additional option. You can apply for retirement or survivors benefits now and switch to the other (higher) benefit at a later date.

      The earliest age you can apply for your own (reduced) retirement benefits is 62.

      You can get Social Security retirement or survivors 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 attain full retirement age in 2021, the earnings limit is $50,520 but we only count earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. Beginning with the month you reach full retirement age, earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn. If you’re under full retirement age for the entire year, then we deduct $1 from benefit payments for every $2 earned above the annual limit. For 2021, that limit is $18,960.

      You would need to call your local Social Security office for a widow’s benefit estimate. 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.

  5. donna

    i collect disability and my husband wants to start his social security at 64., receiving a lower amount than full retirement. can i switch over to file for his social security and drop my disability after he files?

    • Vonda

      Hi Donna, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. 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. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own disability benefit, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, the spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your husband’s full retirement amount (not the reduced benefit amount). So, you can only receive additional benefits if your own disability benefit is less than half of your husband’s full retirement benefit.

      Check out our Benefits For Your Spouse web page for additional details.

  6. Donna D.

    I am 61, soon to be 62 and I am going to wait before I apply for retirement. My husband became disabled several year’s ago. Am I entitled to any of his benefit’s now ??

    • Vonda

      Hi Donna, thank you for your questions. Once you’re 62 or older, you may be able to get spouse’s benefits but, under existing law, if you’re 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.

      Your benefit as a spouse can be equal to one-half of your husband’s disability amount only if you start receiving those benefits at your full retirement age. If you begin to receive benefits at age 62 or prior to your full retirement age, your benefits are reduced. The reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits you qualify for once you opt to start benefits at age 62 or at any time prior to your full retirement age.

      Remember, if you qualify for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own retirement benefits 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, the spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your husband’s disability amount. So, you can only receive additional benefits if your own full retirement benefit (not your reduced benefit) is less than half of your husband’s disability amount.

      Check out our Benefits For Your Spouse web page for more details.

  7. Alan A.

    I am currently collecting my social security retirement benefits and my age is 68. My wife is 67 and a retired state of Texas teacher drawing her retirement from the Teacher Retirement System. She has paid into social security prior to her becoming a teacher but does not have the required credits to draw any social security benefits. We have been married for 42 years. Does my wife qualify for spousal benefits collecting 50% of my retirement amount?

    • Vonda

      Thanks for the question, Alan. If your wife receives a pension from a government job in which she did not pay Social Security taxes, some or all of her Social Security spouse’s, or widow’s benefit may be offset due to receipt of that pension. This offset is referred to as the Government Pension Offset, or GPO. For additional details, check out our Government Pension Offset factsheet. We hope this is helpful!

  8. Dianne B.

    Hello. Last June I applied for benefits on my own account in advance of turning 70 in August. Additional information was requested and also submitted in June. In October I contacted FBU Manilla to check on the status of my application and was informed it had been submitted to the U.S.Central Office. In December the status was still the same. I was advised to check back again in January. I just wondered if you can give me some idea of how long a delay to expect and if the delay is due to Coronavirus or just a processing delay. Thank you.

  9. Stacie L.

    My husband died several years ago. I am 57 and wanted to determine what I could receive from his social security when I turn 60. I want to wait to get mine until age 70, but I am not sure if this is realistic. This information will help with my financial plan. Thanks,

    • Vonda

      Hi Stacie, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. The amount of your widows benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of the person who died, when the deceased worker started receiving their benefits, and your age at the time of your spouse’s death.

      Typically, a widow or widower at full (survivors) retirement age or older generally receives 100% of the deceased worker’s amount, a widow or widower under full retirement age receives about 71 to 99 percent of the worker’s benefit amount, and a widow or widower with a child younger than age 16 receives 75 percent of the worker’s benefit amount.

      You can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. However, there is a limit to how much you can earn and still receive full benefits. Visit our Receiving Benefits While Working web page for more details.

      For more information about how much your benefit would be, visit our If You Are The Survivor web page. For an estimate, call 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.

  10. Sandy W.

    Today I am applying for retirement benefits to begin in April 2021 (month I turn 70) so that I can receive all 48 months of DRCs. My husband is filing a Restricted application for my spousal benefits ( not filing for his own so that his benefits will continue to grow(DRCs) until he is 70). Can we file both of our applications online on the same day or must he wait until I am receiving benefits??? Will my husband be able to see his retirement benefit amounts when he longs in after applying for spousal benefits?

    • Vonda

      Hi Sandy, thanks for using our blog to ask your questions. Your husband may be able to get spouse’s benefits but, under existing law, if he’s eligible for benefits both as a retired worker and as a spouse, he must apply for both benefits and he’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.

      There is an exception to deemed filing for those who turn 62 before January 2, 2016. Check out our Deemed Filing For Retirement And Spouse’s Benefits web page for details.

      Your husband can apply online. One question in the application path is “If you are eligible for both a retirement benefit and spouse’s benefit, do you want to delay receipt of retirement benefits?” If your husband meets the exception and answers yes, the application will be restricted to just spouse’s benefits.

      If you need further assistance, 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.

      • Sandra W.

        thanks…I applied for Retirement benefits on Jan 6 and my application is being processed. My husband is eligible(born in 1952) to file a Restricted application for spousal benefits. Can he file the Restricted Application NOW before I actually begin receiving retirement benefits????

        • Sandra W.

          thanks…I applied for Retirement benefits early n Jan and my application is being processed. My husband is eligible to file a Restricted application for spousal benefits. Can he file the Restricted Application NOW before I actually begin receiving retirement benefits????

      • Sandy W.

        So spouse who is eligible to submit a Restricted Application for spousal benefits can submit NOW….. prior to my application being being approved ????

    • Carol C.

      My husband worked from 1965 till his disability (dementia) in 2008. A total of 43 years( plus he was a wartime veteran) He died 5 years after receiving DSS. Why am I not entitled to his Remaining SS benefits as well as mine. We were married 39 years and if he had lived to the age of 80 that would have totaled $67,200. After all it was his money and I’m his surviving spouse. We both worked very hard.

      • Vonda

        Hi Carol, thanks for using our blog. It is possible for a person to be eligible for benefits from different records at the same time. However, we are only going to pay the highest benefit amount from either record – meaning that you will only be allowed to receive one payment.

        If you are the widow of a person who worked long enough under Social Security, you can start receiving reduced survivor’s benefits as early as age 60 (50 if disabled). If you are also eligible for retirement benefits on your own record, you may have an additional option. You can apply for retirement or survivors benefits now and switch to the other (higher) benefit at a later date.

        The earliest age you can apply for your own (reduced) retirement benefits is 62.

        You would need to call and make an appointment to file for widow’s benefits as you cannot apply for that online. You can call your local Social Security office. 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.

        • Sandy W.

          Have applied for Retirement Benefits… application is processing. Can spouse apply for restricted application NOW, prior to me receiving benefits?

Comments are closed.