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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Francis E.
I am confused with the spouse benefit. My wife turned 66 (full retirement age) applied and started receiving her SS benefits. I turned 66 eight months later (full retirement age) and applied for SS. Now that I am drawing my full benefits, can she now apply for 50% of my benefits (mine is higher than hers)
A.C.
Hi, Francis. Keep in mind that if your wife qualifies for her retirement benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay her own benefits first. If her benefits as a spouse are higher than her own retirement benefits, she will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information. For specific questions about her benefits, your wife can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or contact her local Social Security office. Thanks.
Anthony P.
Am I entitled to any funds upon the death of my spouse? And what do I do. My spouse passed Dec 20, 2018
V.V.
Anthony, we are very sorry for your loss. If you already receive benefits as a spouse, under your spouse’s record, your benefit will automatically convert to a survivor benefit after we receive the report of death. Typically, the funeral director notifies us of an individual’s passing by contacting the local Social Security office.
If you are receiving retirement benefits on your own record, you can only apply for benefits as a survivor if your retirement benefit amount is less than the benefits you would receive as a survivor.
You cannot report a death or apply for survivors benefits online. If you need to report a death or apply for benefits, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can speak to a Social Security representative between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also visit your local Social Security office.
Ann
I’m 64 and took my own benefit early @ 62 because my husband decided to leave the marriage after 30 years.
We never divorced
He has now been diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. He took benefits @ full retirement age 70….(Hes 10 years older than me).
What does this mean to me when he passes?
He says I get all of his FULL amount…and no longer mine…
Is my deceased spousal amount reduced because I took mine early?
Thank you.
V.V.
Hi Ann, thank you for 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, your age at the time of your spouse’s death, and the amount of your own retirement benefit. We compare your own benefit with your potential survivor benefit. If your survivor benefit would be higher than your own current retirement benefit at the time of your spouse’s passing, you would be eligible for survivor benefits.
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. For more information about how much your benefit would be, visit our Survivors Planner.
Mari
My spouse left the home after 30 years of marriage. I’m disabled and worked for 33 years, but not enough over the past 10 years for the SSDI credits. I’ve used my 401K and now I have no money. If I rent out a room in my home is it possible to receive monthly payments from SSI or would the $400/mo from a roommate interfere with this? Thank you
V.V.
Hi Mari, thank you for the question. Because Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that gives cash assistance to individuals who are age 65 or older, blind or disabled, with limited income and resources, we must know about all income to determine the proper payment amount.
For specific questions regarding income, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. or contact your local Social Security office .
Judith A.
We married Dec 19. 2018 and he packed up and left me Jan 27. 2019. I took early retirement and he just took retirement at age 65. I receive around $2,000/month and receives around $350/month. When I die, will he get part of my retirement? Would he receive ant of my retiremenr if I was able to get an annulment. Thank you?
V.V.
Hi Judith, thank you for the question. According to current policy, a spouse must meet a 1 year duration-of-marriage requirement just before filing for the spousal benefit. Check out our Benefits For Your Spouse web page for more details.
Generally, a surviving spouse or widow meets the marriage requirement if the marriage took place no later than 9 months immediately preceding the day on which the worker died. To learn more , visit our Survivors Planner: Survivors Benefits For Your Widow Or Widower.
Maria S.
My name is Maria Santana, I am retired with the full age of jubilicion, I still find myself working and already turned 70 years, my employer makes the discounts for Medicare and SS, I wonder if my retirement will continue to increase each year to continue active working . (regardless of the cost of living increase)
Tom Z.
How does, ex-spouse work. I am Divorced. What is she entitled to, when I die, or retire? Thank you.
V.V.
Hi Tom, thank you for your question. See our Retirement Planner: If You’re Divorced for the eligibility requirements and more detailed information. Check out our Survivors Planner: How divorce affects survivors benefits for more information on the survivor benefits.
Linda A.
I’m 67 years old and I would like to receive my full benefits at age 70. I am married and my husband is retired and is 71 years old. My question is can I retire now and not draw from my benefits until I turn 70 can I draw from my husband’s Social Security at age 67 until I turn 70?
V.V.
Hi Linda, thank you for your question. You may be able to get spouse’s benefits but, under existing law, if you are 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.
However, if you turn 62 before January 2, 2016, deemed filing rules will not apply if you wait to file at your full retirement age or later. This means that you may file for either your spouse’s benefit or your retirement benefit without being required or “deemed” to file for the other. See our Deemed Filing For Retirement And Spouse’s Benefits FAQs web page for details.
Karen A.
Have been reading on this for 2 hours. Still confused. I am 70 yoa, divorced since 1980, also disabled when I was 54yoa. I worked and put my X thru college, and he worked for the State most of his life. And I know he earned a lot more than I did. I do not understand why I cannot receive part of his earnings, as I am listed as poverty level in my earnings. He is 72 yoa, and retired. Is there anything I can do to receive more earnings??? I am having a hard time. thank you
V.V.
Hi Karen, thank you for reading our blog post. We will always pay a person’s own retirement benefit first. If their benefits as a divorced spouse are higher than their own retirement benefit, they will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher divorced spouse benefit. However, keep in mind that a divorced spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of the worker’s full retirement amount (not their reduced benefit amount). So, a person is only going to receive additional divorced spouse’s benefits if their own full retirement benefit (not their reduced benefit) is less than half of their ex-spouse’s full retirement benefit (not their reduced benefit).
To find out if you are eligible for a higher benefit amount, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday or contact your local Social security office. Thanks!
M P.
My 66th birthday is on Nov 19th, 2019, and I am still working.
I understand I can take my SS during my birth year (ie now) without penalty if I earn less than $46,920.
Alternatively, can I take 50% of my ex-husband’s SS now, without penalty if I earn less than $46,920?
Thank you
V.V.
Hi there. Thank you for your questions. Because you attain your full retirement age (66) in 2019, the limit on your earnings is $46,920 but we only count earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. Beginning with the month you reach full retirement age, your earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn. The Getting Benefits While Working web page provides more details.
In addition, because you were born prior to 1/2/1954, the deemed filing rules will not apply to you IF you wait until your full retirement age or later to file. This means that you may file divorced spouse’s benefits without being required or “deemed” to file for your retirement benefit. See our Deemed Filing For Retirement And Spouse’s Benefits FAQs web page for details.