Retirement

Understanding Spouse’s Benefits

January 24, 2019 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last 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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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Hazel F.

    Good afternoon my husband Lorenzo Adderley Jr SS # 267618273 died in June 2006 and I am now trying to apply for spousal benefit. Please help me with doing so. I do look forward to your response soonest.
    Kindest regards

    • A.C.

      Hi, Hazel. We are sorry to hear about your loss. You are eligible to apply for survivor benefits when you reach age 60 (age 50 or over if disabled). For more information, visit here. We hope this helps.

  2. Neil C.

    Have a question regarding my spouse taking half of my benefit and then her own at age 70. I am 69 already receiving benefits, she is 66 and ready to start. The dilemma is that her own benefit would be higher than half of mine, but the break even point after age 70 would be about 16 months. Is this feasible or advisable?

  3. Jennifer A.

    Hi. If I take an early retirement, I heard you can get extra money, that is associated with my husband’s social security. It doesn’t come out of his check, I was told

  4. Ron Z.

    My spouse was disabled at 48 years of age and has been receiving monthly disability payments since 2005.

    She is now 65, must I submit any documentation to reflect she qualifies for old age retirement.

  5. Rita. s.

    How can I receive all or a portion of my recently passed away husbands social security? I am a disabled retired person from the federal government . Does that matter?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Rita. A pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies, such as police officers and some teachers) may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your benefit can be reduced based on one of two provisions: The Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. For more information, please visit here. Thanks!

  6. Sherry P.

    I’m 66years old and am married 10years. I do not have S.S., (‘have not worked)’ can I receive my husband’s S.S.?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Sherry. Thanks for your question. You should know that even if you never worked, you may be able to get spouse’s benefits. To learn more about spouse’s benefits, please visit here. Also, check out our publication, What Every Woman Should Know. We hope this helps.

  7. Karel R.

    I was born on March 15, 1954. On what date may enroll for FULL SS benefits?

  8. Debra L.

    I am 66, however my ex spouse will turn 62 in November. Can I then collect 50% of his benefits at that time? His benefits will be more than mine. I have not registered for my benefits yet.

  9. Emmie G.

    My husband and I are both on disability. He will be 65 this year and I am 63. If he becomes deceased will I be able to drawn a portion of his ss should he become deceased and still draw my full disability amount that I am drawing. For instance if his check currently is $1,000 a month and mine is $900, will I draw appx. $500 from his and my full amt for a total of $1,400 a month. I do understand this total is an appx out. I am just trying to find out if I can draw from his too to try to help ends meet.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Emmie. Thank you 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 benefit. We compare your own benefit with your potential survivor benefit. If your survivor benefit would be higher than your own current benefit, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. To learn how much you could be eligible for, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can also visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are The Survivor page. We hope this helps.

  10. Sharon (.

    I’m a CSRS retiree from the USPS and cannot receive my social security due to the GPO/WEP, however I have been working for a university for the past 12 years and pay into Soc Sec. If my husband passes, what survivor benefit do I receive? He has the full benefit monthly SS which he began at age 66. He is now 76. His monthly check is $1816. Please respond to both of these email addresses: shar@topsidemarine.com and cher.jones@sjsu.edu

    • A.C.

      Hi. Thanks for your question. A pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies, such as police officers and some teachers) may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your benefit can be reduced based on one of two provisions: The Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. To learn more, please visit here. We hope this helps.

Comments are closed.