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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Paula P.
Fiance’ died an 11 year partnership – no marriage (planned for this spring 🙁 ) Are unmarried long term partners entitled to Social Security benefits of partner?
MK
Fiance died 11 years partners. Am I able to draw from his social security without the marriage certificate/ceremony.
Vonda
We are very sorry for your loss, MK. In cases where a common-law marriage may be involved, Social Security follows the state laws. So, check the laws in your state. Check out our Survivors web page for additional details.
jan w.
I want to know how much I will be getting on Social Security if I work until 63 or 64. My dob is 04/08/1958.
Vetta s.
I lost my social security card and I don’t remember my number I don’t no what to do
Vonda
Hi Vetta, thank you for your question. First, realize you may not need a replacement card. You will rarely need to show it. Knowing your Social Security number is what is important. Check out our Social Security and Coronavirus web page for details on getting help with your Social Security number. We hope this helps!
Mhell V.
My mother is now staying with me and cannot remember any of her details. How can we access her account with a new email address? She’s 83 and cannot remember anything.
Harry H.
As an Army and DA Civilian retiree I paid little into Social Security and receive under $500 per month. What would or how do I calculate what my, never worked, wife receives upon my death.
Betty k.
My husband had to start drawing social security because he has esophageal cancer. Can I start drawing at 62 to be able to stay home and help him. To and from treatments and what ever he may need.
Paolo P.
For SS purposes I intend to retire at age 67. I will be receiving SS benefits. My wife will not be receiving SS benefits because she is a public school teacher in California. Will she be able to receive benefits based on my benefits and what % would that be if she starts at age 67?
Vonda
Hi Paolo, 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.
Patricia
Hello Vonda. I was married for 19 years. I have sufficient work credits in the private sector to collect my own social security benefit. Four years before my divorce I began working for a local county. I have read up on the windfall elimination provision and I understand how that will reduce my own social security benefit. My understanding is that if my full benefit amount (before the WEP reduction) is less than half of my ex-husband’s I can apply to receive the greater amount of half his benefit amount. The GPO will still be applied, but the end result would be a larger amount than if I did not apply for a spousal benefit. Is this correct? Can I receive an estimate of my ex-husband’s benefit in order to determine if his is twice my own so I can begin planning?
Vonda
Hi Patricia, thanks for using our blog. To inquire about potential benefits on your ex-spouse’s record, you will need to contact your local Social Security office for an estimate. 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.
If you receive a pension from a government job in which you did not pay Social Security taxes, some or all of your 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.
Geri T.
My father died on September 15, 2020 at 87 years old. My mother, who is also, 87, was denied my father’s Social Security monthly payment with no explanation included just a form letter. Her Social Security monthly payment is 1050.00 and my father’s approx 1950.00, a difference of $900 which my mother could use for her living expenses. Can you please assist me with this issue?
Vonda
For your security, Geri, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. Your mother can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or she can call her 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.
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.
Sue
Hi, Sharon, and thanks for using our blog. For privacy reasons, we can’t direct message you. However, you may be able to request an award letter, sometimes called a benefit verification, budget letter, benefits letter, or proof of income letter, by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. They are available 24/7. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a proof of income letter.
Sorry to hear about the difficulties you experienced with your my Social Security account. If you no longer have access to the second factor (email address or cell phone) on your account, and you need to change the second factor, you can request a reset code online. If you forgot your password, and the password reset questions didn’t work, we can send a temporary password in some circumstances. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions webpage for details on how to retrieve or change your username or password.
We hope this helps.