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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Chris
This was a bit challenging to understand. Can you explain…..What is a “non working spousal benefit”… and who receives it?
Thanks!
V.V.
Hi Chris. If a spouse has never worked under Social Security, they may be able to get spouse’s retirement benefits if they’re at least 62 years of age and their spouse is receiving retirement or disability benefits. For more details, visit the Retirement Planner: Benefits for Your Spouse web page.
Jeri P.
My husband and I both receive social security checks…when he dies, do I as the spouse still receive both of our social security checks?
Elizabeth V.
Hi
Do I qualify to receive social security benefits from my ex husband, we’ve been married for almost 24 years. I really need extra income. We were married March 10, 1989 and got divorced January 2013. I am not sure if he is still working. I don’t get social security only the yearly government retirement income. I don’t drive .
My ex husband is
Rogelio S. Valenzona
My email address is
Liz.Valenzona@comcast.net
Betty J.
My husband had started drawing at age 62 and passed away the following year. He is 2 years older then myself. I started drawing at 62 also. My ss is higher then his so I draw mine. My question is what happens to his ss?
Deborah R.
how long does a women be married to spouse before she recieves benifits..
Lynn M.
My husband is receiving his Social Security payments. I stayed home with our children and grandchildren. I worked briefly a couple times and have 10 credits. I was recently told I might be old enough, at 62, to apply and receive half of his amount. Am I able to do this now or not yet? What would I need to do?
Tracie A.
My Husband was killed by a drunk driver 9-3-1999 we were married on 3-22-1991 married for 8 years. I just turned 60 years old can I collect his social security while i am working full time?
Jean
My husband passed away 8 years ago at the age of 52. I would like to start receiving his SS benefits when I turn 60 in a couple months. How does this work, and is there a limit as to how much money I can make at my present job?
kathleen w.
Hello,
I am, a divorced wife of 27 years. My ex-husband is self employed carpenter, I really dont know what he claims. How can I find out if I should take mine, which isn’t much
due to being a stat at home Mom for 15 years.
V.V.
Hi Kathleen, thank you for your question. If you are divorced and currently unmarried, you may be able to receive benefits on your ex-spouse’s record if your marriage lasted 10 years or longer. For eligibility details, check out the Retirement Planner: If You’re Divorced.
For your security, we do not have access to your information in this venue. To inquire about potential benefits on your ex-spouse’s record, you will need to contact your local Social Security office or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available to help you Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
John H.
The statement: “You cannot receive spouse’s benefits unless your spouse is receiving his or her retirement benefits” seems to be in contradiction to the SSA – Deemed Filing for Retirement and Spouse’s Benefits FAQs under “Can I restrict my application for benefits and apply only for spouse’s benefits ….” which seems to say that one born before January 2 1954 can apply for the spouse’s benefit before being deemed to file for the other thereby earning delayed retirement credits.