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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Joseph B.
Can someone call in a complaint, and if person is late reporting a marriage what would happen?
V.V.
Hi Joseph. You can submit a complaint by Emailing Our Support Team. A delay in reporting an event could cause an overpayment to occur depending on the benefits received. See “If I get married, will it affect my benefits” for more information. Thanks!
Karla B.
Ok so my husband passed away in November 12 2018. I reported it right away. I was told that because I am also disabled that I could qualify for disabled spousal support at age 50. As of February 4 I am now 51. I had my phone interview on December 18 2019. And I have not received my decision for my disabled spousal support. I need help because 800 is not enough money to live on thanks Karla Trude
A.C.
Hi, Karla. We are sorry to hear about your experience. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work to continue to work with our offices with specific questions. 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. You can ask to speak to a supervisor on your next visit or call. We hope this is resolved soon.
Christina N.
Hi, I just started collecting my SS at age 62. Whereas my husband is currently collecting Rail Road Retirement until he reaches the full retirement age of 72 then he plans on switching over to his Social Security. Question…Can I switch over to collect on his Social Security NOW even though he is not currently collecting on his SS even though he is 68 years old? His, of course, would be more than what I am currently collecting on mine. Thank you, Tina
A.C.
Hi, Tina. No, 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 later on, 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. We hope this helps.
Christina N.
Hi Ann, When you state
“But if you also qualify for a higher amount as a spouse later on, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount.”
Question 1. This means I cannot collect on my husbands SS which would currently be higher than mine until he starts collecting it even though he gets a retirement from his previous employer and currently takes Rail Road Retirement so his SS continues to build until he reaches age 72? Question 2. Or if he switches over and starts claiming SS now can I then start collecting on his which would still be higher? Thanks Tina
Sande
I am 67 and have been collecting my full SS benefits since I turned 66. My husband is 65 and plans to collect full SS benefits starting when he turns 66. 50% of his full benefits is greater than my 100%. When he collects, can I start getting 50% of his as spousal benefit?
andrea s.
Why does one spouse get half of a payment and the other spouse get a full payment?
I am female and I have always made more money than my husband.
A.C.
Hi, Andrea. Thanks for your question. Social Security is neutral with respect to gender – individuals with identical earnings histories are treated the same in terms of benefits. We calculate your average indexed monthly earnings during the 35 years in which you earned the most. Higher lifetime earnings result in higher benefits. If there were some years when you didn’t work, or had lower earnings, your benefit amount may be lower as a result. For details on how your retirement benefit is figured, go here. For information about the spouse’s benefit and how it is figured, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Virginia R.
I am 66 & started drawing full SS at that age. My husband is 62 & still working. He would like to retire early @ 63. Is it possible for him to leave his SS continue until his full retirement age & draw 1/2 of mine until that time?
A.C.
Hi, Virginia. No, if he qualifies for Social Security benefits on his own record, we pay that amount first. But if he also qualifies for a higher amount as a spouse, he’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.
Elizabeth P.
Is there a rectoactivity for the previous months that widows unclaimed monthly benefits?
Chip M.
This was the most confusing explanation I ever heard and did not answer my question. I am about to retire at age 67 and I want to know if my wife, age 67 and who never worked, can apply for her own retirement benefit. If she can apply separately now, I assume she will be entitled to 50% of my full retirement age (66) benefit. True?
Robert W.
While processing my application for retirement benefits, which has been approved effective February 2019, the social security representative who processed my application urged me to apply for benefits in addition to mine to which, according to the representative, my wife is entitled.
According to the representative, any benefits my wife might be entitled would have no effect on my retirement benefits.
My 70 year old German wife, who is retired and draws a German retirement pension, and I live in Germany. My wife has never had a social security card and worked only in Germany, on the German economy.
Can you please confirm whether the information provided by the representative is correct and under what provision(s) my wife would be entitled to social security benefits.
A.C.
Hi, Robert. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. Since you are living outside of the U.S. we ask that you continue to work with your local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.
R C.
If a us citizen having worked, lived and paid us taxes for many, +20 yrs, dies leaving a spouse of over 20 yrs, but she is not a us citizen. Is the surving spouse allowed spousal benefits? Whether or not the surviving spouse is or isn’t s us citizen seems irrelevant. Thks
A.C.
Hi. Thanks for your question. If your spouse is a noncitizen and living in the U.S., she may be able to receive benefits. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions. If she is outside of the U.S., she may not be eligible. For more information, visit here. We hope this helps.