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. Richard S.

    I am an American citizen, receiving Social Security benefits and living in Leon, Mexico. My wife for 33 years turned 62 years old last November. I would like to claim spousal benefits for her on line. But, I was unable to complete the form to (register) open an account. A required field on the form required a home address. The form would not accept a Mexican address. Can you help me open an online account.

    • V.V.

      Hi Richard, thank you for your question. At this time you must have a U. S. mailing address to create or access your online account. The “my Social Security” authentication system requires address verification as one of the essential criteria for issuing an account. People with APO/FPO/DPO addresses can create an account overseas, but our system does not support registration and account creation for users with a foreign address yet.

      Even though you are unable to create a my Social Security account, you may still file your application online. You can apply online for retirement benefits if you:
      •are at least 61 years and 9 months old;
      •are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record;
      •have not already applied for retirement benefits; and
      •want your benefits to start no more than 4 months in the future. (We cannot process your application if you apply for benefits more than 4 months in advance.)

      We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefit Unit or U.S. embassy 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.

  2. Pamela J.

    Wondering what happens when one of us dies? Can the other spouse, the widow or widower, then have some or all of the benefit received by the now dead spouse?

    We are currently both in retirement phase and receiving payments each month.

    • V.V.

      Hi Pamela, thank you for your question. For individuals that are already receiving retirement benefits, they can only apply for benefits as a widow or widower if the retirement benefit they are receiving is less than the benefits they would receive as a survivor.

      Use our Survivors Planner to look at how your family members are protected if you die.

  3. Sue

    Ok my question is: My Husband who is age 59 is recieving social security disabilty. I am turning 62 and applying for my ss benefits. Am i able to apply for anything on his social security that would increase my benefit?

    • V.V.

      Hello Sue. 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, the spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your husband’s full disability amount. So, 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 benefit.

      Generally, during the initial interview when applying for Social Security benefits, we typically explore all other benefits that could yield you a higher benefit amount.

  4. Flor

    Buenas yo Flor de Maria Mobsalve para hacerles una pregunta es que el tres de febrero no me pagaron mi pensión que tengo que hacer graciad

  5. Kim L.

    Question?
    Want to know more about collecting Spousal benefits.
    I am 62 and wondering if I can fill to collect from divorced spouses SS. He is 74 and collecting.
    Thank you
    Kim

    • A.C.

      Hi, Kim. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years and you cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. Check out our Benefits Planner: If You Are Divorced for more information. Thanks!

  6. Jane P.

    How much can I make while receiving my husbands benefit. I am 63

  7. Sandra S.

    I want to start drawing my benefits at age 62, my husband is still working and is going to retire at 65, but may wait until full retirement age of 66 years 2 months to receive his full benefit. Will my benefit change at that time to be half of his (half of his will be more than my reduced benefit)

  8. Veronica

    Hello
    Unable to wait on the phone for a response.but do need help with my husband ‘s benefits. My social security number is 6272’
    Please call 936245.2512.
    Or suggestions
    Veronica margot weaver

    • A.C.

      Hi, Veronica. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. Good news, though! You can click “Get Help” in your personal my Social Security account to “Ask a Question” and click “Talk to an Expert” for a call back. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.

  9. Gene M.

    I am 68 yrs old, still employed and not taking SS benefits at this time. My wife is 65, retired, and started taking SS benefits at 63. When can my wife start taking spousal benefits? DO I have to retire 1st before becoming eligible, or is she only able to claim spousal benefits if I die?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Gene. For your wife to qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, if she qualifies for Social Security benefits on her own record, we pay that amount first. But if she will also qualify for a higher amount as a spouse later on, she’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For Your Spouse for more information. We hope this helps.

  10. Eric K.

    Hello,
    If my spouse is not a U.S. citizen, but we are legally married in the United States, is she eligible for partial benefits based on my retirement benefit?

    Thank you,
    Eric

Comments are closed.