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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valerie k.
I am divorced, but just lost my job. I was wondering if I can get spousal benefits. We were married 30 years.
I don not want to start taking MY benefits till I reach 70 if possible because my amount is so low, that is if I can afford to do so. Is that possible? Receive spousal benifiys but not take my own so it can grow till I reach 70?
L.A.
Hi Valerie. If you were born before January 2, 1954, and have already reached full retirement age, you can choose to receive only the divorced spouse’s benefit and delay receiving your retirement benefit until a later date. If your birthday is January 2, 1954 or later, the option to take only one benefit at full retirement age no longer exists. If you file for one benefit, you will be effectively filing for all retirement or spousal benefits. Learn more about divorced spouses benefits here. We hope this helps.
Robert P.
While both my spouse and I have reached FRA, neither of us has retired and don’t plan to retire in the near future. i am receiving my benefits as expected. Since my spouse is a teacher in Texas, we understand that her spousal benefits will be adjusted by the GPO when she does retire. Until she does retire, we understand that she would receive her spousal benefits. Are we understanding this situation correctly?
Joe P.
I can’t figure out if our situation applies. I am about to turn 66 which is my FRA but I plan to work for a few more years. My wife is 65, her FRA is 66 and she it not collecting social security but plans to in the next couple of months. I was 62 be Dec 2015, she was 61. My earnings are higher than my wife’s. We have a financial advisor that is saying I can collect half of my wife’s benefit once she files. This site and others suggest that I cannot. Can I apply for half of my wife’s benefits, defer my benefits, but keep working? I’m very confused and don’t want to miss an opportunity
L.A.
Hi Joe. If you were born before January 2, 1954 and have already reached full retirement age, you can choose to receive only the spouse’s benefit and delay receiving your retirement benefit until a later date. However, if your birthday is January 2, 1954 or later, the option to take only one benefit at full retirement age no longer exists. If you file for one benefit, you will be effectively filing for all retirement or spousal benefits. You can learn more about spouses benefits here. We hope this helps.
Luca a.
At this time my husband and I are both 69 yrs old and both receiving social security. When one of us dies will the other continue to recieve both SS checks? We both started recieving ss at age 62. Thank you
L.A.
Hi Luca and Cat. Thank you for your question. If one of you dies, the other may be eligible to apply for survivor benefits on the other’s earnings record. You can find more information on survivors benefits at our internet page titled “Survivors Benefits“. We hope this helps.
Florentino G.
My wife is 62 and is receiving reduced benefits on my account since she never worked outside the house. I am receiving full benefits at 69. If *I die tomorrow, is she stuck at reduced benefits or does she get my full benefits?
Barbara L.
I am currently receiving benefits from my spouses benefit. I would like to see if mine on my own Social Security would be greater.
Gene E.
My name is G never let me send you and I’d apply for spousal benefits and have been rejected because I cannot produce a divorce certificate however this difference from the other agents who told me that I didn’t need or how to bypass this divorce certificate by producing two statements from people who knew about the now I’m still being good night can you help me
Brenda W.
When you work you pay taxes on your total amount how can the government charge you again taxes on amount you paid . That’s called double taxation .
deloris n.
i get ssi my husband died a year do i get widows benefits? or do i have to be getting a straight disability
Inga J.
How do I apply for Social Security under my spouse/s social security online?