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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Kathy B.
I have been receiving my deceased husband’s Social Security benefits since 2015. I am wanting to contact the administration and ask that money be withheld for 2019 taxes. I cannot find my login information and when asked for help with it was told my information is not in the records. Can you please help me get logged in? Thank you.
don w.
MY WI TOOK RETIREMENT AT 62. I TOOK MINE AT 65. HERS IS 800 MINE IS 2000 CAN SHE FORGO HERS AND FILE FOR HALF OF MINE? SHE IS CURRENTLY 74 I AM 82
Lori G.
This statement goes not make sence
DANIEL J.
My wife turns 66 in Nov and will claim her SS Benefit. I will turn 65 in Sept. Can I claim my SS Benefit, but do a Delayed Benefit and be able to claim 50% of my wife’s SS ?
or
Do I need to be 66 before I could do this ? I would like to delay my SS until I reach 70.
A.C.
Hi, Daniel. Thanks for your question. Keep in mind when you qualify for Social Security benefits on your own record, we pay that amount first. But if you also qualify for a higher amount as a spouse, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Ron R.
Does the $4484 max family benefit apply if both spouses claim their own benefit based on their own work history?
Debbie K.
My husband collects full retirement benefits (66 birth 1953) and we are considering for me collecting spousal benefits at 62 (full retirement for me is 2025 & 8 months birth 1959). I see that reduced earnings would be 50% but I’m guessing that applies to me collecting when I am eligible in the future at full retirement age. So what reduced earning percentage would be for me collecting spousal benefits before I am eligible for full retirement benefits in 2025 & 8 months. I also have read numerous replies and read that other benefits may be reduced if taking spousal benefits earlier that full retirement age as well??? I hope I misunderstand. Looking for percentage so I know if I should collect spousal benefits @ age 62 please.
A.C.
Hi, Debbie. Thank you for your question. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, your husband must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, when you qualify for Social Security benefits on your own record, we pay that amount first. But if you also qualify for a higher amount as a spouse, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information. Your payment amount is based on when you decide to start your benefits. If you choose to get benefits before full retirement age, they will be reduced. The amount you receive when you first get benefits sets the base for the amount you will receive for the rest of your life. Your benefits are reduced a fraction of a percent for each month before your full retirement age. We hope this helps.
John
My Wife is pulling her benefits from her late husband’s ss account. My question is can I pull a partial benefit from her SS account. I am 68 and have not started my benefits and will not until I am 70 and my wife current age is 71.
John C.
My wife and I will turn 66 in June 2019. She retired in 2008. I will retire in 2025.
She will apply for SS in June 2019 and I will apply for spousal benefits in June 2019.
Do I need to file and suspend to receive spousal or can I simply apply for spousal?
V.V.
Hi John, thank you for your question. Because you turn 62 before January 2, 2016, deemed filing rules will not apply to you. 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. In your case, you are asking to restrict your application to apply only for spouse’s benefits and delay filing for your own retirement in order to earn delayed retirement credits. To do this, you file for spouse’s benefits on your wife’s record, you do not file and suspend.
George
My wife began taking her social security at 62 because she missed the “file and suspend” by 1 month. I turned 65 this February and applied for my social security. My wife applied for spousal benefit at that time. The Social Security employee told us my wife would get an additional $238.00 added to her benefit for her spousal benefit. That has not happened. How do we get this corrected?
V.V.
Hi George, thank you for using our blog. For your security, we do not have access to your information in this venue. To inquire on the status of the spousal benefits, your wife 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.