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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Dr. F.
I have disability benefit. I received this benefit in December 2016. I was born in 1954.I am now 64, turning 65 in July. My wife is 66 and received early benefits from SSI. Am she eligible for 1/2 my SSDI ?
A.C.
Hi. For your wife to qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, when she qualifies for Social Security benefits on her own record, we pay that amount first. But if she also qualifies 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 You As A Spouse for more information. For specific questions about possible benefits for your wife, she can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Sheila W.
I am trying to find the application to file for my husbands Social Security.
A.C.
Hi, Sheila. 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. For more information, visit our Benefits Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse. For additional specific questions about your potential benefits as a spouse, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Karen
How do I determine what my deceased spouses’ social security benefits would be today? He passed away at 48 years of age.
He would have been 66 on 02/20/2019.
Also, would I be able to collect his benefits and then collect on social security own benefits when I turn 70 years?
Thank you
A.C.
Hi, Karen. Thanks for your questions. You could be eligible for reduced widow’s benefits as early as age 60 (age 50 if disabled). For more information, please go to our Benefits Planner: Survivors| If You Are The Survivor page. For specific questions regarding potential benefits as a widow, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Hazel W.
I am receiving spousal retirement SS benefits from my deceased spouse. What happens to that income if I remarry?
A.C.
Hi, Hazel. Thanks for your question. To see how marriage may affect your benefits, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions. Thanks, again!
Donald S.
My wife started collecting reduced SS benefits at age 62 on her own record (approx $1000/Month). At that same time I was also 62, but not yet retired, and not yet collecting SS benefits. This year (2019), I will turn 67 (exactly one year past FRA) and will apply for increased (delayed) SS benefits. At the FRA age of 66 (in 2018), I was eligible to receive the maximum benefit of $2788/Month. I have the following three questions:
– At age 67,how much can I expect to receive in SS benefits per month in 2019 (exactly 1 year beyond my FRA)?
– After I start receiving SS benefits, my wife will also be 67 (exactly 1 year beyond her FRA). Will she be able apply and collect 50% spousal benefits from my record?
– How much can my wife expect to receive per month if Spousal benefits are more?
I understand all amounts will be approximations.
Thanks in advance for any reply.
William S.
I am receiving social security. My wife will file for social security in five more years. What may we expect our total income from social security to be?
A.C.
Hi, William. Thanks for your question. We have an online calculator where your wife can test various scenarios and retirement ages to estimate your benefits.
She can also create a personal my Social Security account to review estimates of her retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, her earnings record, and the estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes she’s paid.
Finally, in order for her to qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, when she qualifies for Social Security benefits on her own record, we pay that amount first. But if she also qualifies for a higher amount as a spouse, 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!
Shirley J.
How and when do I apply for 1/2 of my husbands social security. I will be 66 on 5/22/2019. I will not claim mine until age 70.
A.C.
Hi, Shirley. Social Security retirement claims can be taken up to 4 months in advance. Keep in mind to qualify for spouse’s benefits, your husband must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information. We hope this helps.
Howard C.
Can’t I get my wife’s benefits she was 57 when she pasted and was hospital listed for lung cancer and got 2 checks and the last one came to me . I should be entitled to her benefits wright ?I’m 57 years old and I’m working on my ssi
A.C.
Hi, Howard. We are sorry to hear about your loss. You may be eligible for reduced widower’s benefits as early as age 60 (age 50, if disabled). For more information, please go to our Survivors Planner page and read our publication, How Social Security Can Help-When A Family Member Dies. For specific questions about possible benefits for you, please call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
John S.
I am trying to fine out if my wife & I are receivings the correct amount. I have been trying to find out when we actually started to receive benefits. How do i look this up?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Pauline G.
I received a letter from social sec admin informing me that I may be eligible for spouse’s benefits. I thought I could only receive that benefit after his death. My spouse is alive and currently drawing his social security and I am receiving mine which is about a third of what he receives. Am I eligible to draw this benefit?
Jim
Spousal benefit is not the same as Survivor benefit. Spousal benefit allows you to claim on your spouses (in this case your husbands) record while he is still alive. If he dies then you claim Survivor benefits.