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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Patti R.
I have been on disability sincre 2007. How do I file for my husband’s benefits who passed away in Feb. 2019?
L.A.
Hi Patti. Unfortunately, but for your security, we do not have access to personal information on this forum. In your situation, it is best to contact your local Social Security office. Or, you can call our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask to speak with one of our representatives, who are available Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit our internet page titled “Surviving Divorced Spouse.” We hope this helps.
Eva J.
What day in October 2019 will they announce if there’s an increase in benifits in 2020??
L.A.
Hi Eva. We do not yet know if there will be a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2020, and if so, we will not know the amount of the COLA, until sometime in October when the Department of Labor releases information on inflation for the past year. For the latest news and updates on Social Security, please subscribe to our Press Office webpage. We hope this helps.
John W.
I am 67 and have been receiving my full benefits since 66 but my wife will soon be 62. We have been told that she could receive an amount equal to 50% of my monthly amount or take her early benefit . Is that correct? We are confused since you hear so many things from so many different people. Thank you.
Melba R.
I am 79 drawibg SS benefits on my deceased husband. In addition, can I draw 1/2 of my present husband’s benefits? He is also drawing SS benefits. we have been married 10 1/2 years
L.A.
Hi Melba. If your new spouse is a Social Security beneficiary, you may want to apply for spouse’s benefits on that record. If that amount is higher, you may be entitled to the higher amount, based on both records. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page to see how marriage can affect Social Security benefits. We hope this helps.
Susan
My husband, retired years ago, and is collecting soc sec, he was the high earner in the house hold. I turn 62 in 2020. While he is alive can I collect half of what he is collecting now, when I turn 62? He started before full age so we know it’s not what could have been but are fine with that. Just what to know if something were to happen, years from now that I’ll get (only) what he alone got?
A.C.
Hi, Susan. Thanks for your question. 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, 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.
Elizabeth I.
I am a paraprofessional at a school. So I pay into Texas Teacher Retirement. Will I be eligible for spousal benefits?
A.C.
Hi, Elizabeth. Thanks for your question. Generally, a pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies) may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your Social Security benefits can be reduced based on one of two provisions: the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. We hope this helps.
Margaret A.
Help for appling for my xhusbands SS benefits?
A.C.
Hi, Margaret. 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, and you cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. For more information about divorced spouse benefits and how to apply, visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are Divorced. We hope this helps.
Richard B.
I am retired and receive SS. When my wife retires, I assume she will also receive her full SS payment?
Neither payments will be reduced just because we are married and both receive SS?
A.C.
Hi, Richard. If you are both eligible on your own individual records for Social Security benefits, neither will be affected by the other. If either are you receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), your benefits may be affected by changes in income. To learn what types of income can affect SSI payments, visit here. We hope this helps.
Barbara J.
pianobjs46@yahoo.com
If I am receiving disability social security under my dead husbands social security number, as a survivor , would my income increase if he was a veteran? I heard if you bring the DD-214 form down to the Social Security office, you may be eligible for more money??. Can you tell me if this is true??
A.C.
Hi, Barbara. If you are referring to military credits, under certain circumstances, special extra earnings for your husband’s military service from 1957 through 2001 can be credited to his record for Social Security purposes. These extra earnings credits may increase the amount of your Social Security benefit. Special extra earnings credits are granted for periods of active duty or active duty for training. They are not granted for inactive duty training.
For more information on special extra earnings for military service, visit our Retirement Planner page here. We would be happy to review your husband’s record to ensure that he is received proper credit. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask a representative to assist you. Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day. We hope this helps.
Marcia S.
Is there a report I can run online without going into the social security office that will show me what my spousal benefit will be depending on when my husband begins to receive his benefits?
A.C.
Hi, Marcia. Thank you for your question. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, your husband must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, if 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, you’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. For more information about spouses benefits, visit here. For spouse benefit estimates, check out our calculator here. We hope this helps.