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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Josette M.
My husband will be 62 in Oct. I will be 65 in July. I do not have enough credits to collect my own social security benefits. He has been working much longer than me. Can I collect on his benefits even if he’s not collecting on them yet?
Also how long must you be married to collect on an ex spouses?
Sue
Thank you for your question, Josette. Since you don’t have 40 Social Security credits, you should be eligible for spouse’s benefits in the future (and health insurance through Medicare as early as 65) based on your husband’s earnings history. However, your husband has to be receiving Social Security benefits before you can start your spouse’s benefits. You can file for Medicare on his record 3 months before your turn 65, as long as he is at least 62.
For more details, check out our Benefits for Your Family webpage, which also has information about divorced spouse benefits. If you and your husband divorce, you can receive benefits based on his record (even if he remarries) if:
• Your marriage lasted 10 years or longer, and you’ve been divorced at least two years.
• You remain unmarried.
• Your ex-spouse is age 62 or older.
We hope this information is helpful.
Gary I.
I am now starting to collect my SS at 64 and 9 months. My wife received a letter saying she can apply for SS. My question is, she is 67 and has never worked, if she applies does it take away from my monthly benefit? If so it would not make much sense since we are the same household.
Sue
Thanks for your question, Gary. Since your wife doesn’t have 40 Social Security credits, she should be eligible for spouse’s benefits (and Medicare at 65) based on your earnings history because you’re now entitled to your Social Security retirement benefit. For more information, check out our Benefits for Your Spouse webpage. You may wish to use our online Spouse Calculator to do your own computations. The benefits she receives on your record as a spouse are in addition to the benefits you receive.
To apply for spouse’s benefits, we suggest your wife use our online retirement application. If she cannot file online or prefers not to, she should call her local office to schedule an appointment. Use our Office Locator to find the phone number. Our call volume and wait times are greater than normal, so please be patient. We hope this information is helpful.
Marie
My spouse took his ss benefits at 65. I am 64 soon to be 65 in July. He has the higher amount, mine is way less. If I apply for spousal ss benefits what percent will I receive? And if my spouse dies before me will I receive full survivor benefits? Please advise!
Vonda
Hi Marie, thanks for using our blog to ask your questions. If you qualify for a retirement benefit from your own work history you can file for that benefit as early as age 62. You cannot receive additional spouse’s benefits unless your spouse is receiving retirement or disability benefits (except for divorced spouses).
If you took your reduced retirement first while waiting for your spouse to apply, your own retirement portion remains reduced. When you add spouse’s benefits later, the total retirement and spouses benefit together will total less than 50 percent of the worker’s amount. You can find out more about the percentages at our Benefits for Spouses web page.
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.
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. For more information about how much your benefit would be, visit our If You Are The Survivor web page.
Francis W.
I began drawing SS benefits at are 62. My wife began drawing at the same time, she has never worked outside the home. In the event of my death, will she be able to draw more than she does now?
Vonda
Hi Francis, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. 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.
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. For more information about how much your benefit would be, visit our If You Are The Survivor web page.
Sharon V.
My husband retired at 62 due to weakened health.
He was self-employed and always paid social security taxes. I retired at age 74. In Feb. 2020 he died instantly of a blood clot to his heart. When I retired we were told if he died first, I would get 50% of his social security. To my knowledge, I have not received it. I thought it would be automatic, just as mine was. Please advise!
Vonda
We are very sorry for your loss, Sharon. 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.
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. For more information about how much your benefit would be, visit our If You Are The Survivor web page.
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.
Sharon V.
I am refinancing my home and I need a copy of my Social Security Award Letter, 2021 to do so. I cannot remember my user name nor password. Also, when I click I cannot remember my user name or password. When I click on Forgot my user name and password, it will not work, because I changed my email some time ago. Can you help me look up my old account in order to change it to my current email address, so I can log on and get my award letter? Home Phone : 801-571-1651 Please feel free to call me, anytime or respond through e-mail. Thank you for getting back to my last question.
P.A. S.
I recently lost my husband this year 2021. We have been married 31 years. His retirement benefit is higher than mine by almost $500.00. He also currently has a mentally disabled adult child that is drawing off his social security fund for years. As a surviving spouse will i be able to draw off his social security fund at all, and if so, at what percentage or amount?
Vonda
We are very sorry for your loss. 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.
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. For more information about how much your benefit would be, visit our If You Are The Survivor web page.
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.
Emy C.
I started receiving my SS at 62 my spouse is younger than me for 6 years he’s retiring in May 2020 would I be eligible to apply under his SS since he made more than me if so and when?
Vonda
Hi Emy, 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. Your benefit as a spouse can be equal to one-half of your spouse’s full retirement 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 spouse’s full retirement amount (not the reduced benefit amount). So, you can only receive additional benefits if your own full retirement benefit (not your reduced benefit) is less than half of your spouse’s full retirement benefit.
Check out our Benefits For Your Spouse web page for additional details.
Chris
I am divorced after a 15 year marriage and my ex wife is currently receiving disability benefits. I will be 62 in 2023. Can I claim benefits based on her SSA disability at age 62 and then claim my own at age 67?
Vonda
Hi Chris, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. You may be able to get divorced spouse’s benefits but, under existing law, if you’re eligible for benefits both as a retired worker and as a divorced 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.
We will always pay your own retirement benefits 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. 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-wife’s disability benefit.
Check out our Benefits for a Divorced Spouse web page for other eligibility requirements and more detailed information.
Dawn W.
My sister is recently widowed. She has been married approximately 5 months. Her husband was 71 and just recently began ssa benefits. He died of covid on on January 14. Does she qualify for full survivor benefits under his ssa benefit?
Vonda
We are very sorry for your loss, Dawn. Your sister should call her local Social Security office to inquire about potential benefits. 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.
Joseph M.
My wife was on SS disability (cancer) when she died in 2012, at the age of 45.
In 2016, at the age of 52, I received a terminal cancer diagnoses.
Based on what I’ve read, I’m eligible to receive survivor benefits.
SS reps told me I had to have worked within the past 5 years to receive this benefit.
I lived off of savings and credit cards, while my wife was sick, and after she died. How does my work history play into survivor benefits?
If my conclusion is wrong, would you provide the name and number of the regulatory guidance that explains it.
Being sick, I don’t want to waste additional time on this, if I’m not eligible. My work history was more than 10 years ago.
Thank you for taking the time.
Vonda
Hi Joseph, thanks for using our blog. You may be eligible for disabled widowers benefits if you are disabled and your disability started before or within seven years of your spouse’s death. To apply for disabled widowers benefits, please 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. We hope this information helps.
Joseph M.
I never expected a next day answer. This is such an invaluable resource; a great time-saver. It’s customer service at it’s best!
I meet the criteria, and will call our local office again.
You rock, Vonda!