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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Sandy M.
I am drawing my SS, my husband is still working, he will be 66 this year, but plans to draw his SS and keep working,
Q- his SS will be more than mine, can I draw spousal
benefits off of his? we have been married 29 years.
Q-if so, when do I apply?
L.A.
Hi Sandy. Depending on how much your own full retirement benefit amount is, you may be eligible for benefits as a spouse on your husband’s earnings record. (Insert rules on how we factor in spouse’s benefits here). If you are eligible for a higher spouse’s benefit, the amount of your benefit will be a combination of both your own benefit and the difference between your own benefit and your benefits as a spouse. For more information, please read our spouses benefits information page. When you are ready to apply for spouse’s benefits, you may do so by using your personal online my Social Security account. You may also contact us by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday between 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. and ask a representative to assist you with an appointment. We hope this helps.
Sheila
will I draw Social security from my ex husbands SS since we were married 12 years? He retired at age 62 when he reached his 62 birthday. I am 59 now so will I draw from his if I wanted to retire at 62 since his income was higher than mine? Thanks for you response as I am very confused.
L.A.
Thank you for your question, Sheila. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years, be at least age 62 or older, and you cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. For more information about divorced spouse benefits, visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are Divorced. You may also be interested in reading our publication, “What Every Woman Should Know.” We hope this helps.
George Q.
hello, I am taking my retirement benefit early at age 62 and at a reduced rate, my wife however never worked outside the home and will be getting a spousal benefit she is older than me and will be 66 and full retirement age will she get 50% of my reduced primary or 50 % of my full retirement age value? thank you and I’ve been paying for her part a medicare when I got approved did that mean we no longer have to pay for part a?
Eunice R.
I was married to my husband for 36 years. And his first wife and him was married for 11 who gets the social security benefits?
Eunice R.
My husband was married 11 years to his first wife then divorced her. We have been married for 36 years. Who would recieve his social security benefits if some thing happens to him?
A.C.
Hi, Eunice. A surviving divorced spouse could get benefits just the same as a widow. Benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse won’t affect the benefit amount for other survivors getting benefits on the worker’s record. For more information, visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are the Survivor. Thanks!
Chris K.
I began my SS benefits at full retirement age of 66. If my spouse (currently 60) applies for her SS at full retirement age of 66 and 10 months, can the younger spouse then collect 50% of my benefits or their own much smaller benefit?
A.C.
Hi, Chris. Thank you for your question. For your wife to qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Also, if she qualifies for Social Security benefits on her own record, we pay that amount first. But if she also qualifies for a higher amount as a spouse, she’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. For more information, visit here. We hope this helps.
Sue F.
If I receive $600 a month social security, and my recently deceased spouse was receiving $1900 month social security. I am able to file for my husband’s social security @ 100% or 82.5% of his social security income. Do I still receive my $600 a month social security?
L.A.
Hi Sue. We are very sorry for your loss. For your security, we do not have access to information about your case in this venue. Please call our toll-free telephone number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. For more information on about survivor benefits, please visit our Survivors Benefit Planner on the internet. You may also contact your local Social Security office on specific questions about your case. We hope this helps.
LINDA H.
I have been receiving social security for the last several years while still working part time. I am 71 years young. Is it possible for my husband to collect under my name, now, even though he works full time and is 61 yrs. young?
A.C.
Hi, Linda. For your husband to qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be receiving retirement or disability benefits and he must be age 62 or older. Also, if he qualifies for Social Security benefits on his own record, we pay that amount first. But if he also qualifies for a higher amount as a spouse, he’ll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount. For more information, visit here. We hope this helps.
Patricia C.
I received two letters since I had a conference call with a representative from SS in Toms River, NJ. I was told that I would receive my husband’s SS since he passed on July 8, 2019. His SS was higher than what I was receiving. Since my call and two subsequent meetings in person with SS in Toms River where I was told I would receive the higher amount, I received two letters from SS stating that I would receive a lesser amount. I am concerned as I need the additional money as I no longer work and would like to stay in my home. Do I file for a Requst for Reconsideration?
LINDA J.
IF I START RECEIVING SPOUSAL BENFITS AT 62 AM I LIMITED ON HOW MUCH MONEY I CAN EARN
L.A.
Hi Linda Jane. If you are younger than full retirement age during all of 2019, we must deduct $1 from your benefits for every $2 that you earn above $17,640 (or $1,470 per month) limit for the year. For more information, please see our publication titled “How Work Affects Your Benefits.” We hope this helps.