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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Mira
I am confused about the difference between surviving spouse and “regular” spouse, whatever that means. Your agents use confusing jargon and often refer people to various pages on SS website, but I’ve searched numerous times for “required marriage duration to receive SS benefits” and have found nothing.
1. How is surviving spouse different from regular spouse?
2. What is the required marriage length to be able to collect survivor benefits, 10 years?
3. I have seen lots of references to the “required one year marriage duration,” but don’t know if this even affects spousal benefits.
Thanks.
MM
Why isn’t the duration of the marriage listed on this page since it’s a requirement in order to receive benefits? It should be added.
Also, Social Security should have a FAQ page for “marriage and social security benefits” noting benefit requirements and survivor benefits (spouses and children),
I have searched your website and cannot find a link for this information, but I believe marriage duration is 10 years.
Patricia
I am more confused after reading this mess than before I opened the webpage. It looks like you all can just decide on an answer at just a whim, while there is no direct answers to be found.
The question I came to look for was, “I am 66 and my ex husband is 65, I am newly divorced after 39 years of marriage. I am suppose to receive some spousal maintenance and 1/2 of his retirement. (Retired military of 21 years and employed with the Board of Ed of 21 years still actively working) HOW WILL THIS affect my Social Security? At 66 I am straight SS, no longer SSDI. WHERE IS A FAQ to answer this question?
Patricia J.
My husband receives SSDI. I am 64 years old and receive early retirement benefits. Am I eligible for spouse’s benefits under his SSDI as well?
John N.
Planning to marry a foreign born spouse (age 63). How long must we be married for her to become eligible to apply for social security based on my wages? Does Green Card status qualify her to receive social security ?
L.A.
Hi John. According to current policy, a spouse must meet a 1 year duration-of-marriage requirement. To learn more , visit our webpage title Retirement Planner: Benefits for Your Spouse. If you have specific questions about your situation, please call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Hal
If ex spouse is 62 and I am only 60, can they still apply for 1/2 of my benefit?
L.A.
Hal, thank you for your question. According to our rules, you would have to be at least 62 years old, and so would your ex-spouse, to be eligible to apply for divorced spouse benefits. Also, the two of you would need to have been legally married for at least 10 years. See our Retirement Planner: If You’re Divorced for other eligibility requirements and more detailed information. We hope this helps.
Linda R.
My husband left me a year ago and is collecting social security disability. He is 65 and I am 66. I applied a week ago to start getting ss on his record, I am not going to collect on mine until 70. Will I still receive the 50% if I divorce him?
A.C.
Hi, Linda. Thanks for your question. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years. For more information on how to qualify for divorced spouse benefits visit here. We hope this helps.
Marie W.
What are the steps to apply for survivor benefits
A.C.
Hi, Marie. For information about survivors benefits and how to apply, visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are The Survivor. We hope this helps.
Les S.
lsmith.9696@yahoo.com
Hello Les Smith Here, I have some ???s I’m turning 66 in Aug this year and I have been collecting soc sec disability since 2011. Can my ex wife who has not remarried collect on my soc. sec. when she retires? she is still working and is probably going to collect about 4 or $500 less SS than me can she take my SS income from me or will I continue to collect my same amount??
thanks for listtening
A.C.
Hi, Les. Thanks for your question. For your former spouse to be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years, and she cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. The amount of benefits your divorced spouse gets has no effect on the amount of benefits you may receive. For more information about divorced spouse benefits visit our Benefits Planner: Benefits For Your Divorced Spouse. Hope this helps!
Drusilla p.
My husband is 72 and retied. If i retire at 62 if he passes away before i do will receive my ss and part of his?
A.C.
Hi, Drusilla. Thanks for your question. The amount of your widow’s benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of your husband, when he started receiving his benefits, your age at the time of his 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, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. For more information, visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are The Survivor. We hope this helps.