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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Deborah S.
I was on disability since 1999 and did not get very much on disability. I was wondering if I could have drawen off my husbands soc. Sec.? Then when I turned 65 they took me off my disability. I am still disabled with many issues. I think about going to work but I do not think that’s a opposition. With all Insurance’s going up I do not know how one is going to make ends met. When I was down to the soc. Sec. office in Mankato,MN 56001 at one time when he looked me up and found out I was on soc. Sec. since !999. He felt they would have to pay me the difference they did not figure it out. Than was talking to a lady and said they had to look it over. With all the new rules does any of them apply for meMy girlfriend has never worked a day in her life and get a lot more than myself that worked raised three kids on my own and feel that is not right. So can you help me to see if there is any more money I can find ? My husband maybe needs looking at also. Thomas Warner Dull worked to 70 or more in age before drawing.
A.C.
Hi, Deborah. Unfortunately your question is a bit more complex that we can handle in this forum.For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
patricia v.
Am I entitled to my ex-spouse’s benefits amount, as we were married for 13 years but have been divorced since 1983? He just passed away on July 3, 2019.
A.C.
Hi, Patricia. If you are the divorced spouse of a worker who died, you are not married, and you are age 60 or older, you could get benefits just the same as a widow or widower. For more information, please visit our web page, Survivors Planner: If You Are The Survivor. We hope this information helps.
Ker
Restricted application for spousal benefits allowed if born before 1954 has been seven weeks and still processing with no requests for further documentation and several phone calls to no avail.
A.C.
Hi, Ker. We are sorry to hear that. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. You can ask to speak to a supervisor on your next visit or call. We hope this is resolved soon.
Dianne L.
My spouse and I are both alive. He is 69 and started receiving his full SS at age 66. I am 53. I make substantially more money. Should he be collecting under my social security now so he can receive a higher payment? We have been married for over 20 years. It seems only fair.
A.C.
Hi, Dianne. Thanks for your question. For your husband to qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. 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.
Suzanne D.
I need to know if I start to collect my ss and my husband passes away, would I be able to collect his instead of mine? since mine is less than his
A.C.
Hi, Suzanne. Thanks 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, 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 retirement benefit, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. For more information about survivors benefits, visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are The Survivor. We hope this helps.
Marius N.
When my wife earned 40 points she will be entitled to full benefits on her own
She only gets 50 % now.
How can we find out what is her points credit now?
A.C.
Hi, Marius. It sounds like she is receiving spouse’s benefits. If so, she can contact us to determine how many credits she has now. She can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, she will have a shorter wait if she calls later in the day. She can also contact her local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Stephen S.
What I need to know is: do I need to sign up to convert to my social security, as I just turned 70?
A.C.
Hi, Stephen. Thanks for your question. It sounds like you are currently already receiving benefits on another record other than your own. If that is the case, you will need to call us to set up an appointment to file on your own record. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
David W.
So I took my SS at 62 and my wife is waiting to full retirement age. Living we will get both mine at the reduced benefit which I am now receiving and she at the full benefit allowed?
Tammy
Hi, I am 53 and have been receiving disability benefits for over 25yrs. ($1039./mo.); my significant other has been receiving disability benefits for maybe 15yrs.(2250./mo.) We’ve been together for 13yrs. and have considered marriage but are unsure as to if it could possibly ‘harm’ us financially? Also, He’s in poor health, if we did get married and He passed away would I be entitled to widow’s benefits? If so, how much and how long would we need to be married?
A.C.
Hi, Tammy. Generally, individuals must be married for one year before they can get spouse’s benefits. An applicant for surviving spouse benefits must meet a 9 months duration-of-marriage requirement. 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, 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 retirement benefit, you would be eligible for survivor benefits. For more information about survivors benefits, check out our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
Michael
If I receive SS, and my wife still works, how does that affect our taxes ?
A.C.
Hi, Michael. Thanks for your question. For any income tax related questions, you will need to contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040 or you can visit their website at http://www.irs.gov/. We hope this helps.