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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eLIZ
HUSBAND TOOK LEVEL INCOME PRIOR TO MARRIAGE-NOW MARRIED-ANY SURVIVOR BENEFIT FOR ME WHEN HE DIES?
Sheldon G.
I am turning 66 in November, my wife was 65 in July. We both of us work full time.
Can you explain how the ‘restricted application’ works. how I can determine the benefits under this program and how my wife can apply for this when i turn 66.
Thank you,
Charles L.
My wife is planning on drawing her retirement at 62, It’s very little. I’m younger. When I draw my retirement 11 months later how do we calculate what she draws off mine to be added to hers and more importantly how is that filed? I don’t want to her to file incorrectly and not receive the part of mine.
K.O.
Hi Charles L, thank you for reading our blog post. We will always pay a person’s own retirement benefit first. If their benefits as a spouse are higher than their own retirement benefits, they will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, keep in mind that a spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of the worker’s full retirement amount (not their reduced benefit amount). So, a person is only going to receive additional spouse’s benefits if their own full retirement benefit (not their reduced benefit) is less than half of their spouse’s full retirement benefit.
For example, if a worker’s full retirement benefit amount is $1,100, the spousal benefit is 50 percent of that, or $550. However, if that spouse is eligible for a full retirement benefit on their own record of $400, then their actual spouse’s benefit would be an additional $150 which equals that 50 percent. If the spouse waited until their full retirement age to file, they would receive one payment of $550, even though $400 was from their own retirement record and $150 was from their spouse’s record. Spouses benefits are reduced if the individual files prior to their full retirement age.
Mona C.
I will be 67 as of September and still work, my husband also works and is 69, can I collect a portion of his SS monthly.
Thank you
Sara L.
Do I need to have an appointment to report my husbands passing and understand benefits of SS. How can I make an appointment ?
A.C.
Hi, Sara. We are sorry to hear about your loss. Typically, the funeral director notifies us of an individual’s passing by sending proof of death to their local Social Security office. However, you may also report the death of a Social Security beneficiary and request an appointment to discuss possible benefits with your local Social Security office by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
bobby d.
me and my spouce both started receiving ss disability checks before retirement age, however since we are both over retiremnet age our disability checks are now considered regular ss. The way I understand it if my husband passes away I will continue receiving my social security check which is less than his, but I will also recieve a portion of his so that my monthly income will equal what he is receiving each month already. Is this correct? Also, if he should pass away before his next monthly check do I get to keep it or do I have to return it? Also, once he is passed away how long does it take for me to receive his portion of his ss? But during the meantime since I have no extra cash laying around how do I make ends meet until SS is changed over to me. Please how do I survise until then.
A.C.
Hi, Bobby. Thanks for your questions. The amount of your survivor benefit is based on several factors including: the earnings of the person who died, when the deceased worker started receiving their benefits, your age at the time of your spouse’s 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 benefit at the time of your spouse’s passing, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. As far as benefits due to your spouse upon his death, it would depend on the date of his death. To be eligible for Social Security benefits, a person has to live throughout the entire month to receive his or her check. Finally, the time it takes to process a claim can vary. For more information about survivor benefits, please visit here. We hope this helps.
glenda B.
I am on SSDI and my spouse is deceased will I be entitled to any benefits. I am 63 he died in 1996
L.A.
Hi Glenda. Thanks for your question. If your marriage lasted for at least 10 years, your may be eligible for surviving divorced spouse benefits based on your ex-husband’s earnings, beginning at age 60. If you are disabled, you could begin receiving benefits as early as age 50. For additional information on Survivor benefits, check out our internet page titled “Benefits Planner: Survivors | If You Are The Survivor.” We hope this helps.
Arlene M.
My husband is receiving Soc Sec disability and I am on Soc Sec retirement. I am 66 yrs old and he will be 65 yrs old in 2 months. Will his Soc Sec disability change when he reaches 65?
L.A.
Hi Arlene. Thanks for your question. When your husband reaches full retirement age, we will automatically convert his Social Security disability benefits to retirement benefits, but the amount of the benefits amount remains the same. We hope this helps.
Alan
My wife is 71 and has collected Social Security since age 62. I am 64 and am still working and not collecting SS. Am I eligible for spouse benefits without affecting my own benefit until I choose to draw? My benefit will be larger than my wife’s.
L.A.
Hi Alan. 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. If your spouse is full retirement age and applying for spouse’s benefits only, they can apply online by using the retirement application.
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.If you are currently married, then you may be able to get spouse’s benefits. To learn more about spouse’s benefits here.
Lisa M.
My husband passed in 2011, I’m 52 can i draw off of him now, no children, was married 28yrs
L.A.
Hi Lisa. We’re sorry to hear about your husband’s passing. You may be eligible for surviving spouse benefits based on your husband’s earnings record, beginning at age 60. However, if you are disabled, you could begin receiving benefits as early as age 50, if the disability started before or within 7 years of your husband’s death. For additional information on survivors benefits, see our internet page titled Benefits Planner: Survivors | If You Are The Survivor. We hope this helps.